Pre Existing Tinnitus

[miguelgris]

I was found to be H Pylori + about 3 to 4 months ago. And I have symptoms.... I have epigastric pain. That and the concern over gastric cancer have lead me to want to be treated for the H. Pylori. I came down with a terrible case of ringing in my ears about 5 months ago. The ringing in my ears has made me very nervous about any medicine that can make it (the ringing) worse. So that means Clarithromycin, Bismuth would be risky.
I know I'm sounding like a Nervous Nellie but I'm also really reluctant to take Levaquin (with AMox and a PPI) as has been recommended because of some risk factors I already have for tendonitis. Levaquin being known to cause possible tendonitis or tendon rupture. I noticed a few weeks ago there was a therapy listed with Amoxicllin and a PPI alone but that seems to have disappeared off of the web site.
Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx

Miguel Gris

[barjammar]

I suggest that you take a double dose of the acid blocker (to increase the power of the antibiotics), with amoxicillin 1g bid and clarithromycin at least 500 mg bid for at least 7 days. That should do it and be a fair compromise in the risk department. Actually, I never saw tinnitus caused by this treatment so it is pretty safe.

[miguelgris]

So you're suggesting doubling the acid blocking medicine. So for example, omeprazole 20mg BD to 40mg BD?

miguelgris

[barjammar]

That seems a reasonable dose. I actually use rabeprazole 20 mg tid which is 3x the normal dose.

[bau]

I'm glad I came on here and saw this. Because I've developed a terrible case of tinnitus from a treatment using bizmuth/pepto bizmal with the quadruple therapy for H. Pylori. I didn't know what was causing the tinitus, but I noticed in very fine print on the Pepto bottle, that is could cause ringing in the ears, what I didn't know was how dangerous this stuff was and that it could cause hearing loss!! And i am an audio engeener and now have this tinitus that won't go away and has very much effected my abilities and has had devistating concequences for me. These drugs have dangerous side effects that shouldn't be taken lightly! I only wish that my doctor had warned me of the risks and had been more aware, now it's seems it's too late.

I also had severe ringing in the ears from high doses of Zithromyacin, which is relatee to Clarithromyacin/biaxin, when I was being treated for Lyme disease, but it went away when I discontinued treatment.

[dally]

i have had diarreah; intermitten black, and tar, dark urine intermitten, minor stomach pain intermitten, intermitten night sweats, weight loss, and vomit blood for 7months now. i finally decided to mention it to my doc. he sent me to a GI. doc had me do the blood test, said my numbers came back dangerously low for h.pylori. did c13 test doc said she has never ever seen numbers soo high for h.pylori in her 16yr career. CT scan came back negative. i have been getting light-heded lately when i stand up. other than these symptoms, i have no other ones that i see all other h.pylori patients have. why??? what does this possibly mean? is having less symptoms cause concern for cancer? (non-hodgkins)? i am not taking prevpack i was prescribed, for i read all the bad side affects on it. i also read that people have almost died taking it. I WILL NOT TAKE IT!!! i have an endoscopy, and colonoscopy the end of next month. should i even bother?

[Helico_expert]

I think you probably have more than just H. pylori. Should you bother? I think your symptoms are serious enough and you should get full checkup including endoscopy. Your dizziness is probably due to your lost of blood.

if you are going for endoscopy, perhaps you should not take prevpack. as it will give false negative results. I will still recommend you to take prevpack to get rid of your H. pylori. some people do suffer some side effects, but i think the overall benefit is much greater than a week of pain. anyway, if you do start prevpack, i suggest you finish the course unless your side effect is really intolerable. that is to prevent H. pylori becoming resistant.

good luck to your treatment and I wish you will get well soon.