by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady explained: I have recently started taking HRT [hormone replacement therapy] (estrogen only) via a transdermal patch 50mcg, for the last 11 weeks. Since starting HRT I have had a constant pain deep inside my left ear, with intermittent nerve pain radiating behind the ear. It can happen anytime and […]
Ototoxic Drugs
Safer Alternatives to Anti-Anxiety Drugs
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady wrote: I have been suffering from tinnitus for several years and it drives me crazy when I’m trying to get to sleep. I have tried every thing from counting, meditation, etc. I have been to an ear, nose and throat specialist and my local doctor and I have […]
Will Taking Sodium Thiosulfate Prevent Ototoxicity?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. May, 2009 (Revised July, 2018) A man wrote: I was wondering if you had an opinion on a drug called STS (Sodium thiosulfate). It’s being developed to protect chemotherapy patients taking platinum-based anti-cancer drugs from hearing loss. Is this (STS) something that could be more broadly applied to the numerous drugs […]
Gentamicin Treatment for Meniere’s Disease—Here’s the Scoop
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A lady wrote: Dr. Timothy Hain has written an article about low-dose Gentamicin treatment. What do you have to say about this treatment? I respect Dr. Hain and his work, although, in my opinion, he is too conservative when it comes to the side effects of ototoxic drugs. By this I […]
Drugs and Tinnitus: Put Yourself in the Driver’s Seat
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. “When “Jonathan” took a course of Erythromycin prescribed by his doctor, the last thing on his mind was that this drug would cause him to lose hearing in one ear, give him hyperacusis and balance problems, and result in “horrific bilateral tinnitus.” No one warned “Eunice” that taking the […]
Are Desipramine and Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Causing Our Daughter’s Hearing Loss?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D. A concerned mother wrote: Our daughter, aged 25, has been on Wellbutrin for about 3 years now. There were problems with getting the right dosage so the psychiatrist added Desipramine 10 mg about 2 years ago and this was upped to 25 and then 50 mg about 1 year ago. She […]