by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
© Oct 11, 2007; revised Jan 9, 2019
A person asked: “Is Cipro ototoxic?”
Cipro is one of the brand names of the generic antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin belongs to the Quinolone class of drugs, all of which can be quite ototoxic.
Ciprofloxacin can cause severe hearing loss, loud tinnitus, ataxia, dizziness, nystagmus, vertigo and ear pain to name the more common ototoxic side effects. Thus, take this drug with caution, or better yet, never take it at all.
I say this because hundreds upon hundreds of people have reported to the FDA that taking Ciprofloxacin caused their hearing loss. Hundreds upon hundreds more reported getting tinnitus. Furthermore, thousands of people have reported various balance problems from taking this drug.
Apart from the thousands of people that have reported their ototoxic woes to the FDA, numbers of people have told me their experiences after taking Ciprofloxacin. For example, one lady reported,
I only took Ciprofloxacin for three days which resulted in profound bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and inner ear damage that affects my balance.
Another lady explained,
I took Ciprofloxacin for an infection and within 2 days I developed severe vertigo and ringing in my ears.
A man related,
I took Cipro for severe prostate infection. The ringing in my ears became so loud I could not sleep. My ears felt plugged and my neck muscles became so tense I was nauseous. I have lost a significant amount of hearing in both ears and now wear hearing aids.
A lady lost her hearing in one ear after taking Ciprofloxacin for just 3 days. She wrote,
I went to the doctor with a sinus infection. He gave me a prescription for Ciprofloxacin. I took one pill that evening (Wednesday), then took one the next morning and evening for the next three days, a total of 7 pills in all. By the time I took the 7th pill Saturday evening I had this awful popping, ringing, crackling sound in my left ear, and was deaf in that ear. My hearing has not returned at all, and that was a month ago now.
A man reported,
I was prescribed 500 mg Cipro twice daily for 28 days for a slightly-elevated PSA. A minor case of tinnitus is now a major case in both ears with about a 95% hearing loss in the right ear.
Note that you don’t have to take high doses of Ciprofloxacin in order to have ear problems. Even the tiny doses used in eye drops can permanently damage your hearing. For example, a woman explained,
I took 0.3% Ciloxan eye drops for two weeks following cataract surgery. My hearing was severely affected, then slowly picked up a bit. I did not make the connection until the same happened following my second cataract surgery—again with taking 0.3% Ciloxan. I now have to wear two hearing aids.
Nor was this just an isolated case. Another lady reported,
I took 2 (literally just two) drops of eye-drops containing Ciprofloxacin prescribed by my doctor for an eye-infection and suffered permanent hearing loss and life-long tinnitus for my ear on the same side This happened 8 years ago now.
As noted above, it’s not just your hearing that Ciprofloxacin destroys. It can also wreck your balance. As one man lamented,
Six years ago I took 3 rounds of Cipro and I had, and still have, horrible ototoxic symptoms: vertigo (It feels like I’m moving and gravity is violently pulling me down in incremental waves), I also have tinnitus and a general lack of balance and coordination. I don’t go out of the house much because it is very uncomfortable to just walk around.
Therefore, if you value your ears, refuse to take Ciprofloxacin (or any of the other Fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics) until you have exhausted all other ways of getting rid of your infection. Fluoroquinolones such as Ciprofloxacin should be your last line of defense, not your first line of attack.
You can check out the ototoxic side effects of any drugs before you take them in “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed“. This book contains information on the ototoxicity of 877 drugs known to damage ears, including Ciprofloxacin.
Part of the moral of this story is that anytime you start taking a new medication and you suddenly have bouts of tinnitus, stop the drug!! Tinnitus is usually an early warning sign.
is this permanent or is it temporary
I have same question and if not how long before it comes back?
I am a long term survivor of fluoroquinolone toxicity. I have been in this world for almost as long as these very dangerous drugs have been on the market.
In our numerous support groups online, we regularly carry out surveys . We have found that many people especially if they have been severely damaged by them ( this is known as having been floxed ) unfortunately develop very long lasting / permanent Tinnitus, I am one of these people
However, over time I have achieved habituation & I invariably no longer notice my tinnitus unless my attention is actually drawn to it.
The FQs are Topoisomerase interruptors / inhibitors, ( please look this up ,you will find that every other drug described as such IS chemotherapy ) The FQs are not the same as your usual antibiotics but actually failed chemo drugs MASQUERADING as ‘ antibiotics’.
Their mechanism of action results in DNA damage / mitochondrial toxicity & as such these drugs should only EVER be used for life threatening infections, as a LAST resort drug due to their extremely serious toxic profile
We have been advocating for many many years for tighter restrictions on their use.
The FDA have recently again updated the warnings on these drugs thanks to our meeting with them, & they now admit that these drugs can result in permanent irreversible Iatrogenic injuries. ( see link ).
Please note this is NOT rare , but instead fluoroquinolone toxicity is simply unrecognised / dismissed by Drs, who know nothing about the true toxic profile of these drugs, due to all too often delayed ADRs, which all too often mean the patients symptoms are never connected to that harmless sounding so called FQ antibiotic, the patient perhaps took many months before, & 30 years of them being misinformed by the pharmaceutical industry , & as a result Drs all too often will misdiagnose those affected, with conditions like fibromyalgia , ME/CFS , autoimmune conditions, & the the list goes on ad infinitum.
PLEASE avoid these so called antibiotics like the plaque, unless you literally have no other choice , many many times safer alternative choices ARE available
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm500143.htm
Any way you would let me share you comment? To do so anonymously would be fine.
Nearly twenty years of severe tinnitus! I have my own ‘White noise’ machine’.
The list goes on and on.
Fibromyalgia, CFIDS
Dysautonomia
Body wide tendon pain, light intolerance
Headaches
Balance problems resulting in numerou sprains, dislocations, separated shoulders, concussions. List is just too numerous.
Me too.
Levaquin injection left me disabled.
I had never in my career, missed a day of work until after the third injection in two years.. same Dr.
I’ve lost everything but my life because of it.
Beware of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics!!
I took ciprofloxacin for an infection and withing 2 days I developed severe vertigo and ringing in my ears. My doctor said there was no way it could have been this medicine. I definately think it was the cipro.
I want to know if you’re hearing loss was temporary or is it permanent.
I took cipro now I have ringing in my ears. I took this drug twice. I never thoughtabout side effects thoughtit was aging. Had a hearingtest it was good no damagebut ringing still exsist. Hearing goes in and out.
Same here. Eight months later, tinnitus “hissing” remains. Dizziness too; comes and goes.
After talking coprocessor and I lost my hearing on my left ear will it be permanent or
Hi Francis:
I assume you mean Lopressor, not coprocessor, which is the generic drug Metoprolol a beta-blocker.
More than 1,000 people have reported to the FDA losing hearing after taking Metoprolol, not to mention a host of other ototoxic side effects.
The good news is that it seems hearing loss is not necessarily permanent. So when you stop taking this drug, you may recover all or much of your hearing, but there are no guarantees of course.
Cordially,
Neil
I took 2 (literally just two) drops of eye-drops containing ciprofloxacin prescribed by my doctor for an eye-infection and suffered permanent hearing loss and life-long tinnitus for my ear on the same side. So let me reassure your doctor: it was definitely the Cipro and it is definitely permanent since I experience this for about 8 years now.
I took it for 1 1/2 days and developed sever tinnitus
I believe you. This happened to me too on my third day of taking ciprofloxacin 500mg I had a really bad headache all day since I woke up till I went to sleep had vertigo and noticed the ringing in my ears that was so loud this was oct 2020 I still have tinnitus not as loud but still there I also told me doctor i though it was cipro and she also told me she doesn’t think it was the medication which I know deep down it was I also asked my pharmacist if ciprofloxacin can cause a bad headache, vertigo, and tinnitus and his answer was yes it can.
Any manifestation of tinnitus is a critical warning sign of possible cochlear damage due to ototoxicity. Almost every drug has “tinnitus” as a side effect, however, some are known ototoxic agent while most doctors when referring to most medications like Depekote (which gave me permanent bilateral tinnitus) will frequently claim the there is no known risk. You must be self vigilant and highly self aware when taking any new medication to safe-gaurd your hearing!
-Stewart Graham, MPH, PA
It was the Cipro, but there are no courageous doctors out there to stand up for us. The money is too good and making people sick is provitable. Greed. 😢
I took within six months (prescription from ENT) 2 times daily Ofloxacin 200mg for 3 days and Ciprofloxacin 2 times daily 500mg for 5 days. Both times for almost ridiculous, minor infections, which could have been cured with any other med, I’m sure, even an antibiotic was not needed. After having suffered Meningitis in 2001, very hard, I’m disabled, bilateral severe hearing loss, bilateral damage of my vestibular system. In June 2010 I was given Cipro. I had a distinct reaction to the drug after one week, having fever and pain in my whole body. The worsening of balance with Oscillopsia and hearing loss started at this time. I’m desperate. Other symptoms of CNS are showing up now. My age is 67! What to do, referring to the clueless doctor, that gave me a steroid injection as a” help” for the symptoms. He did not see it as an adverse reaction to the drug.
Ria
My urologist gave me cipro for a month, and then repeated the prescription for an additional 30 days to treat my prostate. At the beginning of the second round, my ears developed a ringing. I called the doctor with my concerns, and if there was a relationship between the cipro and my new hearing problem. I was advised there was not, but he took me off the cipro immediately. Since then, the tinnitus has been there, day and night, for the last 4 years. It is especially troublesome, as I am a professional musician, and have always taken extremely good care and precautions for my hearing. It has only been this last year that I has discovered there is a cause and effect link between the cipro and my tinnitus. Is there anything I can do to try and right this condition? Is there any way that the doctor, and/or drug company be held accountable for this medical wrong, when they know a persons hearing is at risk?
Hi Doug:
As a rule of thumb, antibiotics shouldn’t be given for more than 10 days to 2 weeks. The longer you take an antibiotic such as Cipro, the greater the chances for resulting ear damage. In your case, your ears were quite robust and withstood the first month on Cipro, but finally succumbed during the 2nd month. If your doctor had followed the rule of thumb, your ears would likely have been ok.
Although that is not always the case with Cipro. Some people get both hearing loss and tinnitus in the first 3 days on the drug.
I don’t know how your doctor can say with a straight face that there was no connection between the Cipro and your tinnitus when his own drug bible, the PDR, lists tinnitus as a side effect of taking Cipro.
The only thing you can do about your tinnitus now is learn how to habituate to it so it no longer bothers you–in other words in fades into the background and for some hours, you may not even be aware it is there unless you listen for it.
You habituate to your tinnitus when you learn to totally ignore it by focusing on other things, and at the same time break any emotional tie you have with your tinnitus (remain emotionally neutral towards it).
As far as pursuing legal action, you will have to find an expert doctor that will testify that your tinnitus is a result of taking the Cipro, and it seems that few if any doctors are willing to do this.
Regards
Neil
I recently taken this drug too and I wanted to know if this hearing loss in my left ear is permanent or is it temporary.
Thanks to dr niel such is occurring to me I took cipro which I finish last week Monday before then three days after I start using the cipro I observe tinnitus so what is the remedy to the tinnitus
Hi Niji:
The simplest remedy is never to take Cipro, but it is a bit too late for that now. I don’t know of any certain way to get rid of tinnitus from taking Cipro. You can try various things and see if any of them help you. For example, you can try Barry Keate’s Arches tinnitus formula and see whether it helps in your case. It does work for numbers of people who have tinnitus from taking drugs. It’s relatively expensive but could be worth it–however, you’ll not know until you try it. You can get it at https://www.tinnitusformula.com/store/arches-tinnitus-starter-kit.html.
Cordially,
Neil
Dr. Neil
You should know if you are a doctor of medicine that you cannot follow rule of thumb with antibiotics for cases involving prostate or Prostatitis. Prscriptions are for six weeks or more!
Hi Dave:
As you can see by the Ph.D. after my name as the author of the above article, I am NOT a medical doctor (and have never pretended to be an MD).
Your comment just proves my point that when you exceed the time limit of the “rule of thumb”, the chances of experiencing ototoxic side effects can increase dramatically.
If you choose to take an antibiotic for 6 weeks rather than 2 weeks or less–in this case for prostate problems–don’t complain if you end up with hearing loss or loud permanent tinnitus, etc. The chances of this happening are much greater.
People (and doctors) are free to break the rule of thumb–and it can be for valid reasons as you point out–but that doesn’t negate the rule of thumb–often the resulting increased ototoxic side effects just prove the point.
Regards
Neil
I was dumb enough in my mid 20’s to go to a doctor because of a rash. He immediately put me on ciproflaxin and some type of cream. The rash got worse and yes, another dose of Cipro and another drug (cant remember the spelling — Metronidizole?).
After 4 weeks of this balogny I noticed my ears starting to ring. Pathetic. The Cipro and other antibiotics caused tinnitus. I am certain of it!
I explained this to my doctor and he said that Cipro and Metronidizole are not listed among the drugs that can cause ear damage. It has been 16 years and the tinnitus is still here. . . It has effected my life drammatically… Pathetic…
I have had tinnitus in my right ear for over 10 years and now my left ear has it as well as diminished hearing. The only thing I took was Cipro for a urinary infection. I thought I was going to get a Sulfa drug and should have NEVER taken the Cipro. I searched the internet for the connection of Cipro and hearing loss/tinnitus, but never found it. It there any recourse? This drug has ruined my hearing and quality of life.
I know it has been years since you commented, but if by chance you read this, know that you aren’t alone. I have your exact problem from trusting my Drs and taking Cipro numerous times over the years! Profound loss in both ears on top of tinnitus! It’s been hell. Let me know if you were able to persue this legally.
I have had tinnitus for many years, and bilateral sensoneural hearing loss. After taking Cipro, I suddenly and completely lost hearing in one of my ears…so that I could not even hear my own voice, nor was I benefitted by the use of a hearing aid any longer in that ear.
I definitely have noticed my hearing affected since taking cipro! Had I known this
I would NOT have taken this drug.
This side effect not listed on leaflet received with prescription. I’m devastated!
I too feel your pain I have taken this drug for 7 days and lost total hearing in my left ear had I known this I would have not taking this drug either is your hearing loss permanent or is it temporary
took Cipro in 1999 for severe prostate infection. The ringing in my ears became so loud I could not sleep. Ears felt plugged and neck muscles became so tense I was nauseous. I told the dr. it was like someone had there fingers in my ears and their thumbs in the back of my neck and were yanking backwards. I have lost a significant amount of hearing in both ears and wear hearing aides. If I looked at my chart, I could pin point the day when I lost a significant amount of my hearing.
I’ve just discovered this website and the comments here justify the suspicions I’ve had for the last dozen years. I always believed that taking Cipro for a month for a stubborn urinary infection caused my tinnitus which came on shortly afterward. The urologist and GP said ‘no.’
So, I’m right!…small comfort – I still have tinnitus.
I was prescribed 500 mg Cipro twice daily for 28 days starting 9-19-’12 and ending 10-16-’12. A minor case of tinnitus is now a major case in both ears with about a 95% hearing loss in the right ear. Cipro was prescribed when a 9-17 blood screen revealed a slightly elevated PSA. The PSA level dropped back to normal range with a 10-22 follow-up screen. I now have the side-effects to live with.
I was prescribed ciprofloxacin 500mg twice daily following an upper and lower GI scope with no findings. On the first day starting medication I developed ear pressure. Now 2 months later an audiogram shows severe hearing loss in the right ear. I
I went to emergency with a U.T.I, i was given a perscription for 500mg Cipro, to take 2 a day. I already had tinnitus for years, but was never really bad , i was able to deal with it. But, the first day after starting the Cipro, the tinnitus got so bad i was definitely half or more deaf. IT is in both my ears. I kept taking the Cipro because there was nothing on the warnings about it! I finally quit taking the Cipro since i was having some other bad effects from it! I ended up having taken 8 pills, I wish to God i would have stopped taking them sooner!
Warning to everyone! DONT TAKE CIPRO!!! I now have to go to a hearing specialist and probably will be having to get hearing aids!!! I am just hoping and praying that i dont get any more side effects from Cipro. I saw on a site that you can have effects from that drug a long time after taking it!! CIPRO SHOULD BE ON THE BLACK LIST!!!
I have a substantial hearing loss in both ears and wear two hearing aids. I had a prostate procedure and took about nine days of Cipro. I developed a fever that wouldn’t go away. My doctor switched me to another drug. My hearing is terrible now and the ringing is also terrible even with my hearing aids in.
I was prescribed Cipro 500mg tablets one twice a day 12 hours apart for inflammation of the colon. I took the prescription for 5 and half days and suppose to take it for 10 days. Saturday night I had tinnitus and it sounded like a motorcycle and it sounded like someone was stepping on the gas to increase power. It was so real that I looked outside without the lights on. Since my cat was not at all disturbed I knew it was tinnitus. I should have skipped the Sunday morning pill but will not take the second pill tonight. Just left a message on my Dr. answering machine for him to hear on Monday morning. Glad I belong to Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and have the information about ototoxic medications from Neil Bauman Ph.D. I do have a severe hearing loss and wear a hearing aid in each ear. I do not need tinnitus and any more decrease in my hearing.
I just wanted to say that despite Cipro usually being non-ototoxic, I highly suspect that for some individuals – me included – it is. Everytime I took the pills I encountered hearingloss and tinnitus within the first 3 days of medication. There always was a warning period of slight tinnitus after the first or second pill. But of course believing the doctors I continued until a day or 2 laters I lost my hearing – some of it was reversible, but not all. I was stupid enough to do this 5 times over a year – everytime with the exact same effect. Needless to say, may hearing took some permanent damage in the high frequencies.
I dont know how Cipo can be ototoxic because from a clinical testts, it just doesnt make much sense. Maybe Im infected with bacteria that Cipro succesfully hits and if the bacteria die they release ototoxic poison?
Hi Chris:
I have heard from numbers of people who have had ototoxic side effects from taking Ciprofloxacin, so I suspect that side effects from this drug are MUCH more common than doctors realize.
If the clinical tests don’t show Ciprofloxacin to be ototoxic when real world results indicate it is, obviously the tests weren’t done properly, were they? Something is not right!
Regards
Neil
Swell Now I have permanent hearing loss just because of a small low grade urinary tract infection!
We all need to start a class action law suit against the FDA…
I totally agree with you I too have taking this drug and has lost hearing in my left ear totally I’m hoping that it’s reversible and am i hearing returns.
why is this drug still available?….
I have been on Cipro for 5 days and have lost most of my hearing in both ears. No problem prior to Cipro
I took Cipro for 3 days for an bladder infection, my ears began to ring so I stopped taking it. My ears are still ringing and have gotten worse 24/7 the ringing never goes away. I have to get up several times a night because of the ringing, I have been to my primary care giver, an after hours clinic and finally the ER. they could do nothing. No one mention any thing to me about Cipro it was only after I started researching this that I realize what my problem is…..I had no problem to cipro this drug should be banned….
I took Cipro and Flagyl for 4 days and developed ringing in my ears. It’s now been two months and it shows no sign of going away.
Do u still have the tinnitus?
Had just one day left to go on the course of Cipro and have woken up with a n additional loss in hearing.
I wear twin hearing aids due to noise induced hearing loss, now I have potentially even more damage.
Back to the doctor and my audiologist this week to see how bad this is.
Not an impressive drug.
Peter
Twelve Cipro pills (six days worth) destroyed my hearing–and everything else in my body! I’m now on disability and have been since 2009. As far as my ears are concerned, they screech CONSTANTLY, sometimes so loudly that it wakes me up at night. I was just 30 years old when the side effects of taking Cipro crippled my once-healthy body beyond repair in ways I never even knew possible. Cipro’s slew of horrific side effects DO NOT GO AWAY–and even scarier, they often don’t even surface until AFTER you’ve taken your entire course of antibiotics! This stuff is unimaginably dangerous.
http://WWW.CIPROISPOISON.COM
Tinnitus is a common adverse effect with Cipro and the other fluoroquinolones – Levaquin and Avelox being the other popular ones. One thing that should be noted when reading the warning label for fluoroquinolones is that EVERY single one of the symptoms listed on the warning label can occur simultaneously. Please see ciproispoison.com for more information about what should be on the warning label, but isn’t.
For those of you who are suffering from an adverse reaction to a fluoroquinolone, and who are scared and need some positive news, there are stories of healing on http://www.floxiehope.com.
This is my 5th day on Cipro. I woke up today feeling like my right ear was plugged up. It is now evening, and I cannot hear anything in my right ear. I will not complete my 10 day prescription of 2 500 mg. pills per day, 12 hours apart. I also started having loose bowel yesterday, but didn’t connect the dots. I am stopping the Cipro, which was prescribed to me for a urinary tract infection. I am hoping my left ear won’t be affected, and that I will have no other adverse reactions. Why in the world do doctors prescribe such a dangerous drug? Are they not aware of the health risks? If I had not gone to this web site, I would never have guessed this hearing problem was related to the Cipro…it was not listed under “Possible Side Effects”.
I too have developed loss of hearing in my left ear I am so pissed off that the doctors did not inform us of this drug or the side effects I just found this website and I am floored by all the comments and all the loss of hearing that is permanent.
This is Maggie again…it is now Sunday morning and I could not lift the coffee pot this morning. It feels like a sprain in my wrist. I wonder if this is the start of tendon problems. I still cannot hear properly out of my right ear, and there is a whooshing noise in it. Help.
I am a woman who always got bladder infections very easily (according to several urologists it’s the way my body is made, unfortunately). I try natural approaches but if they don’t work I go to the doctor. This means I have had been through different antibiotics over the years like Macrobid but now anything that contains “sulfa” causes a swollen eye or other reaction so I’ve used Cipro the last few infections without any trouble until I was given a once-a-day, more powerful pill for 10 days because this time the bladder infection had moved up and become a kidney infection. The second day i began to hear ringing in both ears but I thought this was due to the kidney infection. It’s now been 6 months and the high pitched ringing hasn’t ceased.
I have 2 questions: 1) can anything be done about this ringing since it was drug-induced? Is there a cure or will it disappear eventually? 2) next time I get an infection that doesn’t go with natural products and I need antibiotics, with Macrobid, sulfas, and Cipro off the list (and anything in their family) what is left that isn’t known to cause hearing loss or worse? I am doing my best to avoid infections and take all precautions but with the way I’m made there will probably be more in my future and I need to be prepared.
Hi Lisa:
I hear from people who’s ears have been wrecked by taking Cipro. Cirprofloxacin is very ototoxic (I classify it as a 4 out of 5). Numbers of people have loud tinnitus as a result of taking it, just as you have experienced. And unfortunately, in too many cases, the tinnitus proves to be permanent. In your case, it seems the higher dose did your ears in. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, many drugs seem to have a “magic threshold” below which you do not get ototoxic side effects, but once you cross that threshold–wham–there they are.
I’m not aware of things you can do that are specific to drug-induced tinnitus. However, all the tinnitus reduction strategies should work with your tinnitus. You may not be able to get rid of it, but at least you can bring it down to a manageable level where it will not bother you. I’ve written extensively about such strategies.
Since you are prone to UTIs, and don’t want to risk more ototoxic drug side effects in the future, you need to find effective non-drug solutions. Fortunately for you, Dr. Mercola just wrote about an effective non-drug solution. I think you should read this article and if you feel so inclined, put into practice what he suggests and see if it prevents most UTIs in the future. The link to his article is http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/04/28/d-mannose-uti-prevention.aspx .
Regards
Neil
Took 0.3% ciloxan eye drops for two weeks following cataract op. Hearing severely affected, then slowly picked up a bit. Did not make the connection until the same happened following 2nd cateract op with 0.3% Ciloxan. Got worried and Googled. Praying hearing will recover, at moment having to wear two hearing aids on maximum volume.
Had reduced from 4 to 3 times a day due to vomiting and the runs. Don’t take Ciloxan.
Hello doctor I used cipro 500mg 2 times a day for 3 days. When I discovered the danger of hearing loss I discounted. Could I have suffered from hearing loss for just 3 days use?
Hi Christopher:
Yes, Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) can cause hearing loss after just taking it for 3 days. I’ve actually heard from numbers of people who noticed hearing loss after 3 days on Cipro, so it does happen. But, on the other hand, there are lots of people that do not have hearing loss after taking Cipro. The problem is you don’t know which group you’ll be in until it is too late to do anything about it. Thus it is better not to take many of the commonly-prescribed antibiotics unless it is a matter of life or death.
Cordially,
Neil
Good day , I have a ETD, the doctor, prescribed me cipro for 5 days. I will not take it due to the dangers. What’s the next best treatment? Is the hearing loss from ETD temporary or permanent?. I will really appreciate your advice. Thank you
Hi Jonathan:
If you have ETD (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction), it generally means your middle ear and Eustachian tube are clogged up with gunk. Given time, the gunk drains out and everything works normally again. Thus in many cases you don’t have to do anything or take any drugs.
So to answer your question, unless you have something “weird” with your ears, typically any hearing loss is conductive and will go away as the gunk drains out and air again fills your middle ears.
Whether you need to take drugs (antibiotics) or not depends on exactly what is going on with your ears. If you have a case of middle ear infection that is not going away (over two months) then maybe antibiotics are needed. If they are just clogged up and no real infection present, then you generally don’t need antibiotics.
If you have ear pain and your eardrum is bulged out and about to rupture, then antibiotics may be a better choice. If not, then you probably don’t need antibiotics.
Too many doctors just prescribe antibiotics whether they really need them or not. Since I don’t know what your situation is, I can’t say whether you should take a wait and see attitude, or take an antibiotic.
I know that I would not take Cipro for an ear problem. There are much less ototoxic drugs that your doctor could prescribe. Ciprofloxacin is in a class of drugs called Fluoroquinolones and they all have nasty side effects.
A much milder class of drugs such as the Cephalosporins would be a much better choice if they will kill whatever “bug” you have, assuming you even have a “bug”. But even in this class of antibiotics, some are more ototoxic than others. For example Cefuroxime and Cephalexin are more ototoxic, whereas Cefadroxil and Ceftriaxone are less ototoxic. So one of the latter may be a good choice if you need an antibiotic. You’ll have to ask your doctor whether they would do the job or not.
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you so much Dr Neil, you’ve been of great help to me, I really do appreciate it.
I had put waxsol , then after that my ear drums were bulged, had ear pain and my eutachain tube was blocked.
Hi, I used avamys steriod nasal spray to clear my sinus, I angled my head incorrectly 3 days and it went into my ears caused blockage and fullness in ears. Later the fluid drained through my nose. I want to know whether the steroid could have harmed my ears or any of the structures.
I was proscribed this drug for a week. (7) day’s on the fourth day I lost total hearing in my left ear. I’m afraid I may never hear from my ear AGAIN!… Talked to doctor about this drug he said it only happens with long term use of this drug. Wish he would have told me before hand. Has anyone regained hearing after discontinuing this drug?… And why is this drug still being sold?… Doctors should strongly recommend not taking this drug if it’s causing hearing loss!…
I’m so pissed off that I lost my hearing ability rather temporarily or permanent. Please band this drug!…
I want to know the outcome if your hearing has come back or was it permanent I to have taken the drug recently in my left ear have no sound.
Hi Eddie:
You are not alone in losing hearing after taking Cipro for just 3 or 4 days. Your doctor is ignorant of this fact–obviously. That is why you need to be proactive and do your own research before taking any drug. You can no longer trust your doctors to know the side effects–especially ototoxic side effects–of the drugs they prescribe.
Cordially,
Neil
Has anyone gotten only the ringinng and has it gone away? Completly? Thats the only side effect i have and i been praying to God its not permanent and Doctors keep telling me its temporary but the net says so many things :-/
Hi Kathy:
There is no way of knowing whether your tinnitus will be temporary or permanent from taking Ciprofloxacin. If it is accompanied by any degree of hearing loss, then the likelihood is it will be permanent. If you have no resulting hearing loss (even in the high frequencies where they don’t test), then you have a much better chance of your tinnitus being temporary.
In any case, if you worry about your tinnitus, it typically will take on a life of its own and thus become permanent. Therefore, you need to learn to completely ignore your tinnitus by focusing on the loves of your life.
Cordially,
Neil
In recent years, one being earlier this year, two different EAR doctors have both prescribed CIPRODEX ear drops (Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride [.3% ciprofloxacin] & Dexamethasone .1%) for outer ear infections. Considering the experience of so many with this drug, it is surprising that it seems to be the go-to drug for ear infections. Possibly the ear drop form is less of a problem than oral medication, which seems to be the form that these writers took.
I can’t say if there were any side effects from this because I already have L ear tinnitus due to L eardrum perforation (repaired) decades ago. In addition, I am suffering hearing loss (ski slope), that was once only in my L ear, now in my right ear as well. 4 years ago, my R ear audiogram was quite good. The one suspect I do have is TIMOLOL eye drops, taken for the last few years for glaucoma (stopped 8 weeks ago after the hearing loss increased in recent months AND I discovered this website). Besides the hearing loss, I was suffering a ‘stuffed-up’ feeling, seemingly in my inner ears, and actual blow-my-nose morning congestion. These conditions went away a few days after stopping the TIMOLOL. Hearing, however, has deteriorated to the point where I am now getting 2 hearing aids. In a way, I am hoping that the TIMOLOL was the cause of the hearing loss and this will not get any more worse than natural aging will cause (I am 65). However, see next paragraph.
My glaucoma is possibly not a problem because my elevated pressure readings may theoretically be mitigated by the fact that I have quite thick corneas. The drops were just a ‘precaution’. Treatment is now increased monitoring.
Hi Robert:
Ciprofloxacin is indeed quite ototoxic. Taking ear drops, while theoretically less ototoxic than taking pills due to their smaller doses of Ciprofloxacin, have an offsetting factor. They are put close to the eardrum where they can be absorbed through the middle ear and into the inner ear where they do their damage. That is why they are still dangerous to ear health.
Timolol is not all that ototoxic, but among other things, it does cause both tinnitus and hearing loss. A number of cases of both have been reported to the FDA so you know it happens. I have no information whether this is permanent or temporary or some of both.
Timolol also can cause dizziness, vertigo and ear pain (maybe from causing congestion in your middle ears).
In your experience, it seems that some of these side effects may be temporary (at least to some degree). Others may prove to be permanent.
The best thing would be to get off the Timolol permanently and see if your ears recover even more. Is there another drug that will help your eyes without damaging your ears?
Cordially,
Neil
Thank you, Neil, for your reply. I guess the discussion of Timolol should be on another page. But I will make my reply here.
I was on various commonly used drops for glaucoma but they all stung my eyes. Hence the decision to go to the beta-blocker Timolol. As mentioned, theoretically I shouldn’t need glaucoma treatment and clinically may not even have glaucoma because my having thick corneas supposedly indicates a reduction factor of the pressure readings obtained from my eyes. With my corneal thickness factor applied to my readings, I am ‘normal’. This is, however, still theoretical. (I suppose one day we will have enough experience with this to be definite about the effects of thick, and thin in the opposite way, corneas on intraocular pressure readings.) So the drops were deemed a prudent safety measure. Importance of eyesight, and all that.
With my eye doctor’s acquiescence, I have indeed stopped the Timolol. (I am going for in-depth eye exams at much more frequent intervals in order to catch any deleterious effects from stopping the eye drops.) That was almost 3 months ago. That ear ‘congestion’ feeling and the necessity of much nose-blowing in the morning has gone away and stayed away. My hearing, though, has not improved and as mentioned I now have 2 hearing aids.
The Timolol may not be the culprit. But it is odd that my hearing loss started and accelerated especially in the last 12 months. With minor exceptions, I have not usually been exposed to loud environments. And due to a change in residence and lifestyle, the last 26 months have been very quiet for me. So recent loud sound exposure is definitely not to blame.
Hi Robert:
It’s hard to tell for sure, but the Timolol may or may not be the cause of your hearing loss–but it sure looks suspicious.
Cordially,
Neil
I have been taking ciprofloxacin for a uti for 4 days now & this morning I woke up & both ears feel clogged & i can hear my heart pounding & every sound is magnified by 1,000 it’s a scary feeling. Is this now permanent & do you know if anyone has ever sued for this happening? I’m so upset I am only 41 and i have 6 children I cannot have a hearing problem,that is making me crazy ! If this persists I’m going to start a class action lawsuit suit & hopefully everyone else that has commented here & people who haven’t commented will join with me so we can get this drug OFF THE MARKET ! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE DOCTORS PRESCRIBING THIS MEDICATION!
Hi Tammy:
Ototoxic side effects from taking Ciprofloxacin may be temporary or permanent. It seems that even if it is temporary, there is still some degree of permanent damage that gets worse each time to take more Ciprofloxacin.
I just saw something this last week that indicated the FDA is tightening the rules for prescribing Ciprofloxacin (and the rest of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics).
You need to do your “due diligence” and research drugs your doctor prescribes before taking them. Don’t just blindly go by what your doctor says, because it’s you that has to deal with all the side effects, not your doctor.
Cordially,
Neil
I’m so afraid God help us all
This is the third time I have left a comment on this site. The last time I communicated was April, 2014. My hearing loss is permanent, as well as my tinnitus! This is all due to a Cipro prescription. My condition has worsened over the last two years. Thank God I quit taking the Cipro pills after five days. The Doctor will not admit the culprit is the drug…of course! I have warned everyone I know NOT to take Cipro, Levequin or Avelon…they should be marked with a skull and crossbones. I have no alternative but to accept my condition as permanent…only hope it doesn’t worsen with time.
Hi ,I am just curious to know “how is ototoxicity” of a medicine determined , is it based on statistical results or some detection procedures are applied like laboratory technics or test results on animal
Hi Ray:
All of the above for a VERY few drugs. However, most drugs are never specifically studied for ototoxicity, so their ototoxicity surfaces from people reporting ototoxic side effects, either during a drug study, or afterwards when the drug is on the market. Truly, not very much is known about the ototoxicity of most drugs. I wish there were more definitive studies done on them–but that will probably never happen.
Cordially,
Neil
I’m freaking out. I have a hole in each ear drum. I’m supposed to wear something in my ears since I was a baby when I take a shower. I haven’t done it for years. Until I started losing my hearing and didn’t know why. I went to the emergeny room and saw a doctor. I gave her the whole rundown of my lung illnesses and sinus and ear problems. She checked my ears and diagnosed me with an infection, bacteria from all the soap and water that kept getting in my ears. She told me to have them plugged up in the shower and in the meantime, she was putting me on ear drops. I asked her if it would be ok that I used silly putty to plug up my ears. She said yes. She said they could not do
anything else because of my perforated ear drums. So I did the drops as preserved for 7 days, 10 drops in each ear. Nothing worked. I still could not hear. I went to another emergency room and they looked and saw the same infection and gave me pennecillin (dicloxacillin). My hearing came almost all the way back. Then, I was taking a shower and used the silly putty, as usual and per the doctor’s ok. I get out of the shower and reach in my ears to grab the putty out. All of a sudden, it started breaking off inside my ear. I kept trying to pull it out with my finger, and I got most of it. Except for one tiny piece. I’m freaking out. I noticed very minimal hearing loss but every time I swallowed or burped, my ear would pop and the piece of putty felt like it wanted to come out. I researched this happening to anyone else and that’s what scared me. The package of silly putty says not to use in ears. The putty changes consistency to your body temp. It will start breaking apart. I freaked and went to the ER again. Why would they give me the ok TWICE to use silly putty? Of course, the doctors who said this weren’t there. At the ER for the silly putty ordeal – she said the piece wasn’t big enough to grab. And because of the holes in my ear drums, she couldn’t flush it out. So she gave me the Cipro/Hydrochloride ear drops. I went and picked up my prescription 2 days later and talked to the pharmacist on directions. I went home, did as directed in my effected ear- next day – 90% loss of hearing in left ear. I had to call into work. I went to the ER AGAIN. We talked again about my holes in each ear drum. They didn’t seem to know a damn thing they were talking about. But told me there’s nothing I can do and to continue using the drops in the right ear because it looked red – but she said the infection is gone. I cannot hear in my left ear. I came online to look it up to see if it’s just a common, temporary side effect. And reading these comments scared me. I did 3 drops of Cipro one time and that was the only time. I will NOT be continuing this medication. Any advice on how to get silly putty out of an ear with a perforated drum? Also, is my hearing loss permanent even after only 3 drops?
Also – to those of you asking about a lawsuit. I saw an ad on google when I was looking this up and there are lawyers filing suits for people who took Cipro.
Thanks!
Hi Carissa:
When you use ear drops in your ears, the manufacturer assumes that your ear drums are normal and don’t have any holes is them to keep the ototoxic drug out of your middle ear and from diffusing into your inner are where it can “kill” your hearing.
I’ve never heard of using ear drops when you have a perforated ear drum. That is just asking for trouble.
Who knows whether your hearing loss is temporary or permanent–only time will tell. Cipro is quite ototoxic so you don’t want to use it around your ears–especially with holes in your ear drums.
Is there a reason you have not gone to an ENT (ear specialist) and had your ear drums rebuilt so you don’t have holes anymore? I’d think this would be a good deal for you. It should not only give you better hearing, but also keep infections out of your middle ears.
Cordially,
Neil
I have a sudden case of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction that was accompanied by a loud tinnitus that would keep me up at night. ENT did a hearing test and there was no hearing loss.
After a month of using nasal sprays and some anti-inflammatory supplements the tinnitus got better but didn’t go away. So I started a low dose Cipro thinking it would help with an infection in the middle ear if that was the cause of the ETD.
Within 3 days of Cipro my ears began to fill with fluid and drain much more than they had before. And the tinnitus got a lot better. It even changed tones to a high pitched background hissing. I can’t hear it during the day, only at night or really quiet rooms…. Another hearing test says no hearing loss.
Even if this secondary tinnitus was caused by the Cipro (250mg, twice daily, two weeks) do you think it will eventually go away?
I still have drainage and a plugged feeling that it slowly getting better so something is still going on with the middle ear that started before I took the Cipro.
When should someone worry that it is permanent? 2 months? 4 months? This all started in November of this year.
Hi MZD:
As long as you have a middle ear infection or congestion, I wouldn’t start the time clock. You can expect that the middle ear congestion will cause the tinnitus/keep in going. However, once your middle ears are clear, then if your tinnitus is going to go away, you should expect it to fade away in a month or two or so, or at least to fade into the background so much that you are not aware of it unless you specifically listen for it.
The trick is that you have to forget about your tinnitus and focus on the loves of your life. If you keep on thinking about your tinnitus (Is it gone yet?) and such like, then it may never go away.
Cordially,
Neil
I TOOK CIPRO FOR 4 DAYS AND ENDED UP WITH HEARING DAMAGE AND HEARING AIDS.
I WONDER IF A LAWYER
SOMEWHERE HAS THE
BALLS AND BACKBONE,
TO CLASS ACTION LAW
SUIT THIS DRUG AND ITS MANUFACTERS !!!
I was prescribed cipro pills for a week. Then 6 months later i have gotten tinnitus permanently. Can this be caused by cipro from long time ago?
I was using a buzzer shaver and then i went into the shower and heard fleeing tinnitus for 5minutes and went away.
When i went on my laptop to play a game with the music on, the laptop also has loud fan going. The tinnitus was there afterward and ever since.
Hi Rob:
In my experience, tinnitus from taking Cipro typically occurs in the first few days after you begin taking. I do not have any information that indicates that it could appear six months later, like it can with some drugs. It may be possible though.
It’s quite possible that your tinnitus was due to loud sounds that you recently exposed your ears to.
Cordially,
Neil
I took 7 lots of Cipro in 7 months for UTIs, as I finished the last course I got tinnitus and was unable to walk properly, looked and felt like a drunk, after a lot of ent appointments they said Labyrinthitis, then Ménière’s then Vestibular migraine, now MdDS , I had two more courses of Cipro 4 months later in February 17, my tinnitus is screeching 24/7 the wobbles we’re getting better but I’ve just had a 1 week course of Cipro again for a uti and the tinnitus has spiked and the wobbles are even worse, to me this sounds like Cipro poisoning although when I took them I had no idea obviously, it’s only because I don’t agree with the ent doctors that I’ve been researching the internet, do you think I’m right? It’s been 17 months now, I see from your advice that the tinnitus won’t go away?
Hi Joanne:
As far as I’m concerned, you have a classic case of Cipro side effects severely damaging your balance system AND your hearing system. If you are smart, you will refuse to take any more Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or indeed any of the same class of drugs–the Fluoroquinolones. If you do, you are just asking for more trouble.
You might want to try Doxycycline for your UTIs or even better, one of the Cephalosporins which are much less ototoxic than Cipro.
If you’ve had tinnitus for 17 months now, it is safe to say it is permanent, but you can still gain control over it so it doesn’t bother you. And if it doesn’t bother you, what difference does it make whether you have it or not? My ears are screaming away right now as I write this, but it is no big deal. That’s what happens when you become habituated to your tinnitus.
Cordially,
Neil
With all due respect, tinnitus is a big deal for me because it interferes with my hearing, and my balance is affect ed again, etc. I went to another ENT because my previous one kept dismissing my concerns about him using Cipro drops, insisting that the drops were different from the oral Cipro and trusted that he knew of no problems with using the drops. I told the new ENT that I didn’t want him to use it. I have multiple drug allergies, especially antibiotics. I did tell which one I could take; I then allowed him to put tubes in my ears because he said that my ears were so bad. Prior to having the tube placed, he did a hearing test and said my “hearing was pretty normal but that it was all over the place.” My previous ENT told me that my hearing loss was permanent, that I was just getting older and that I needed hearing aids. At that point he told me he could no longer help me, despite my constant drainage form my left ear… Thus I decided to seek another opinion. My hearing was starting to get somewhat better but still had the drainage and loud tinnitus. Now I find myself back to square one, my hearing is worse, and the tinnitus is much worse… I will see my new ENT tomorrow to find out exactly what he put into my ears to prevent infection when he place the tubes.
So so so so so so it seeming like I got floxed.
You live and learn when you get school of hard knocksed.
Of course I want to go back in time
Tell my doctor my ears are not fine
Show him that my conserns were justfied
I’m proof that the medical textbooks lied
But now all I can do is wait
Hope that the effects will dissipate
My tinnitus has increased!
Now I have to deal with this beast.
I was diagnosed with cholesteatoma in 2016 and was prescribed ciprofloxacin ear drops prior to surgery to help with an active infection. The drops cleared the infection, but left me with a severe dry mouth. I was unaware at the time I had no ear drum left at all due to the disease, I would get a strong taste of the drops in my mouth every time I administered them and would rinse my mouth with water for several minutes after each time to help get rid of the taste rather than swallow it. Anyway, over two years on now and I still have a dry mouth. The dryness is worse also on the right side, it was my right ear I used the drops in, I am in no doubt that the drug has damaged mitochondria and my salivary gland function. The dryness began within a week or so of finishing my course. I was tested for autoimmune conditions like sjogrens and all my markers are fine and negative for those. The timing alone, along with the fact that the dryness is worse on the right side leaves me convinced it was the cipro that did this. Doctors are useless and deny any drug could do this. I only hope given time my mitochondria may repair to an extent. This drug should be banned.
I had ear infection due to cold weather in India. the doctor prescribed ciprofloxain 500 . I had six tablets and my ears started ringing high pitch continuously and it never stops. My doctor has no idea that this is caused by ciprofloxain. I didn’t believed it until I came on this website and learned about numerous people suffering from same problem.this drug needs to be banned.
Hi Setu:
This drug should be used much less frequently and much more cautiously than it presently is–saved for life-threatening conditions–and not used for ear infections than can be fixed by other less ototoxic drugs or preferably by other natural means. I say that drugs should be used as a last resort, not as the first line of attack.
Cordially,
Neil
Cipro destroyed my hearing in my left ear. Oh, and did I mention it also completely crippled me? Keep paying your taxes, I depend on you for SSDI now (and will continue to for the remainder of my life). STAY AWAY FROM CIPRO IF YOU ENJOY LIVING!!! For more on this nefarious drug see my website at http://ciproispoison.com/
I just stopped taking cipro today, I was taking 500 mg 2 times aday for a UTI and my head was buzzing real bad I have PTSD and thought I was loosing my mind, yesterday I could not hear anything and I did let my doctor know and she said that cipro was the only antibiotic for me to take, and she thought it was my anxsiety , than today I woke up and my head was ringing so loud , I looked up cipro online and seen all the comments and I did not take cipro today, my head is not buzzing as loud but my ears feel plugged and I have distant buzzing. I was on cipro for 4 days, is there a chance that the buzzing will go away ? And is there anything that I can do to make it better ?
Hi Lisa:
Ciprofloxacin is quite ototoxic. It sure wouldn’t be a drug I’d take unless there were no other possibilities–and that is not the case.
You obviously have both tinnitus and hearing loss from taking the Cipro. It’s good that the tinnitus is not as loud today. If your UTI is under control now, you probably don’t have to take any more antibiotics. However, if you do, I know Doxycycline also works for UTIs.
One thing you might want to do is get N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and take around 1,800 mg for a few days to a week. It is one of the main building blocks of your body’s powerful antioxidant–glutathione. Glutathione zaps the free radicals in your ears that the drug produced before they can zap your hair cells, etc. So if you are going to do this, do it now–today–get started asap, as after 3 days the damage will have been done and it won’t work then. NAC is available online, in drug stores and health food stores. And it won’t hurt to take magnesium supplements now too. Magnesium threonate is the most bioavailable form of magnesium. That is what I take.
Cordially,
Neil
I just finished treatment with cipro for one week (14 pills) for sinusitis. Now I feel neck and ear pressure with some ringing in the ear. Is there something else I can do aside taking the NAC cystein suplement to try avoid the damage in ear?
Hi Victor:
You can take magnesium and zinc supplements–but not sure how much it will help now. Both of these minerals are needed for good ear health and functioning. I’d suggest magnesium threonate and zinc picolinate as being the most bioavailable forms of these minerals.
Cordially,
Neil
Dr. Bauman, I took Cipro for 5 days as part of pre-op and post-op treatment for a ureterscopy. I had no other options as a “superbug” had colonized in my urinary tract when stents were placed during the first procedure because my ureters were too narrow for a successful procedure until they had been dilated. Thankfully, all that is behind me. I stopped the Cipro after one final pill in the morning after noting ear fullness and ringing that previous evening, and reported it to my doc. I have now been off of Cipro for 9 days. The ringing has reduced. It was in both ears and now only in my left and seems to be fading. Is it possible it will totally fade away? It is quieter and also stops sporadically. Your strategies and tips, especially the very basic one of not paying attention to the tinnitus, have been very helpful. Thanks for your help. I have an appointment to see an ENT in a couple of weeks just to check my hearing, but it seems fine. I did a couple of online hearing tests with perfect scores. Interestingly, the urologist wanted to give me yet a third antibiotic (I had taken Keflex righ after the first unsuccessful procedure, and then the Cipro prior, during (IV), and after the second). This was to prevent any bacteria from the removal of the stent after the third procedure. When he saw the look on my face, he said, “Or, you don’t have to take it.” Why would he have even recommended one in the first place? Antibiotics are so overused! I’ve been taking magnesium supplements for years and kicked up my probiotics along with some turmeric tea after this debacle.
Hi Terry:
It’s possible that your tinnitus will continue to fade away, but there are no guarantees. Many people are not so lucky.
I don’t know why doctors persist in using Ciprofloxacin when there are safer drugs that can do the trick for UTIs and similar conditions such as Nitrofurantoin, Cephalexin and Doxycycline.
Cordially,
Neil
I live in Sweden.
Just as others I was prescribed this drug by an AT (in training) doc in my local care center, just for a suspected UTI.
Immediately got severe ringing ,hearing loss, nausea and so on.
Found out that some of the problems is caused by a loss of magnesium.
Just search for magnesium+dog+achilles+tendon +fluoride and you will find out that some of these problems comes from a loss of magnesium in the body.
So if you have started to take this type of medicine, please start taking 300 mg / day magnesium food supplement immediately, and do not stop for at least a month.
In my case I stopped this horrible drug after 3 x 500 mg pills, but this drug does not leave your body any time soon.
First lash back occurred 3 days after stopping, but was a bit mild.
Second lash back came 14 days after stopping the drug, and was very severe and horrible – probably magnesium loss.
Woke up in the middle of the night with howling tinnitus i left ear, nightmares, thirsty drank a full liter of water, felt tingling in nerves down the leg, both arms joint pain – just hit me like bang, you are dead.
Still not that better 3 days later.
Talked with my MD Carl Fredriksson, and told him of my problems, but the only response was ” your choice, you don´t have to take the pills”. And I added “please do not prescribe this type of medication”. But he assured me that this type is fully safe, and approved by the Swedish authorities – “not everybody develop severe side effects” and “it is a fully normal drug for every day use”
All in all a horrible medication, should have never gone into the market.
Taking magnesium, zinc, curcumin, B, C, D vitamins, and praying to get better.
Hi Oscar:
As far as I am concerned, no drug should be prescribed without first checking to see what “bug” you have. That means no antibiotics given for “suspected” conditions.
And even then, there are a number of antibiotics that are not near as ototoxic as the fluoroquinolone antibiotics of which Ciprofloxacin is one. For example, Nitrofurantoin is much less ototoxic and works well for UTIs. However, what’s done is done now.
I didn’t know that the fluoroquinolones depleted your body of magnesium, but I’m not really surprised. I do know that many people are deficient in magnesium. That may be why some people have severe ototoxic side effects when they take Cipro and kindred drugs, and why others don’t.
Personally, I take magnesium supplements every day just for good health. The most bioavailable magnesium is magnesium threonate–which is what I take.
Your doctor just takes the standard medical line than drugs are “safe” when all drugs have potential side effects–so how can they be “safe”. Just because they are approved doesn’t make them safe. Just read all the side effects that are listed for each drug (and even then, most of the side effects are not listed on the drug package inserts, especially not ototoxic side effects. That is why I spend so much time ferreting out these “hidden” side effects.
I “love” the two statements that drugs are “safe” and then put it beside the other statement “not everybody develops severe side effects”. How can a “safe” drug cause “severe side effects”? Do doctors even listen to the nonsense they spout?
Thanks so much for writing and bringing the magnesium depletion situation to my attention.
Cordially,
Neil
My last post was in April, 2014. Fast forward to June, 2021…I have severe tinnitus in both ears…barely any hearing in right ear, and hearing diminished in my left ear. It seems the damage done to me is permanent. The good news is I did get the use of my right wrist back, just less strength than before. I can now lift the coffee pot most of the time without it collapsing.
Hi Maggie:
Well, you can be thankful for small blessings. I’d sure say your tinnitus and hearing loss are permanent after 7 years.
Are you coping ok with your tinnitus? I hope you have learned to habituate to it so it no longer bothers you even though it is there ringing away.
Cordially,
Neil
My doctor prescribed Cipro 500mg tablet, I took 1 pill last night and woke up with loud ringing in my left ear this morning. I called the doctor, they told me to stop the medication. I am scared now, will the ringing go away? I only took 1 pill. How could they not ban the drug with all these people reporting loss of hearing.
Hi Carrie:
Unfortunately, for numbers of people, their tinnitus never goes away. For others it reduces in volume. And numbers of people get permanent hearing loss. So it is wise to stay away from this drug if at all possible–and it is possible as there are other lesser ototoxic drugs readily available that will do the job in most cases.
You need to learn to ignore your tinnitus, not worry about it as that will just make things worse. Focus on the loves of your life and let your tinnitus fade into the background.
Cordially,
Neil
I am suffering from tinnitus for two months now after I took Cipro 500mg twice daily for 4 days. I thought it was due to my Pfizer vaccine, but after I read this thread I am confident my Tinnitus.
Hi Khal:
Why do you think your tinnitus is from the Cipro and not from the Covid shot? Both of these can cause tinnitus.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil. Thank you for this review. I have existing tinnitus caused by bupropion. I m trying to habituate but am still struggling. I currently have a severe leg infection which requires antibiotics. I was recommended Cipro, but declined this. I have alternatively been prescribed Dicloxacillin orally. Just curious if you know if this is associated with tinnitus and if it tends to be permanent or not. I obviously do not want to take any. But this infection is severe and will require hospitalisation if it does not clear up. Thanks for your ongoing support and your determination to help others
Hi Sam:
Dicloxacillin is only mildly ototoxic so it is a good choice. There are few reports of tinnitus from this drug. Another choice is Bacitracin which has even fewer reports. I just had a man also with a leg infection ask about the Bacitracin he was prescribed–and I told him it was probably as good as it gets in terms of ototoxicity. So see what your doctor says about it. But at least you have two reasonable choices as I see it.
Cordially,
Neil