Doxycycline induces tinnitus - or not?

[Fernfield]

Hello, so I am after some shared experience here as a recent tinnitus-club joiner!

I have been taking doxycycline for a good 1.5 years now (100mg/day) as a treatment for Papulopustular rosacea. All doing well until I started hearing high pitched static noise in both ears.

Hearing balanced and tympanography good.

Root cause for tinnitus is either doxycycline or idiopathic.

I feel I can predict a “good” day with lower sound if I spend the day in a quiet environment (inside or out), the tinnitus is very loud at night if my days have been spent in the car, public transport, large meetings with loud voices.

I refuse at this stage to bring my mood down, but not sure how long I can do that for.

my questions here are below if anyone has experienced it:

- has anyone developed tinnitus on doxycycline after taking it for so long?

- has the tinnitus reduced or gone away when stopping it?

- has anyone with rosacea been given an alternative?

- do you have advices to have good days?

- have you tried Lenire treatment?

Thank you so much 😊

[Marlayna67]

hi there. No solid answer, but every drug I take has some effect on the sounds I hear. I try to stay away from antibiotics unless it’s an emergency.

[Dazza2024]

Sometimes Medicines work different for other people, I tried some new Meds, not what you had & it sent my Tinnitus Screaming & Blood Pressure was sky high & all sorts of things going on in my head. Whilst others comment on your meds, I would suggest doing daily Blood Pressure checks, if your Blood Pressure is high, it could be aggravating the Tinnitus. Later today, I am seeing a Specialist private clinic to see what they can do about my tinnitus & the root cause. Although, I also think that months of high blood pressure for me has some done damage with my blood vessels and so has aggravated or damaged some things which can be linked to hearing & tinnitus, I will find out more info later if that is part of my cause or not.

[Fernfield in reply to Dazza2024]

Thank you. Blood pressure fine so need to look elsewhere. Good luck finding your root cause

[Fridays_Child_62]

I have no idea what doxycycline is but I have two documents that list potentially tinnitus-inducing drugs and it is mentioned in both: "Prescription Medications, Drugs, Herbs & Chemicals Associated with Tinnitus" (2013) from the America Tinnitus Association and "Pharmacological drugs inducing ototoxicity, vestibular symptoms and tinnitus: a reasoned and updated guide" (2011) from the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. However, it is one among many many drugs listed and there is no indication of the likelihood of it causing tinnitus. It is not mentioned in an article I have that lists the Top 20 tinnitus-causing drugs from the Tinnitus Today magazine (Summer 2018).

[Fernfield in reply to Fridays_Child_62]

Thank you, it’s listed on the antibiotic side effect list (the little paper that goes with it) and the ENT said it is either that or idiopathic. So I have stopped it but tinnitus has continued. Will try Lenire.

[Happyrosie]

my husband was prescribed something for rosacea - but I can’t find what it was, sorry. Certainly wasn't what you had. And no question of Tinnitus.

[Fernfield in reply to Happyrosie]

No probs, thank you

[Fernfield]

no problem, thank you both