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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / April 2005hearing problem
I have been taking chloroquin (I forget the full name at the moment) for which there is a warning of rare hearing problems. I recently ran headlong into that dreaded midwestern mallady what's-going-around and was seized with coughing for two weeks. In the course of this agony of coughing, fever, congestion, and general malaise I a) swallowed a crown, b) got a call that I should leave off diclofenac, and c) got an ear ache. I woke up one moring to find that my congested left ear had gone silent and it promptly became painful. Anyway, after a series of events I have to see the otolaryngologist tomorrow who will, I am told, probably be able to correct the deafness sugically (gulp). I am also told that I have mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears aside from the silence in the left. What I want to know, if anyone has any idea, is there any way to connect the hearing loss to the medication? Is there some characteristic of the rare drug connection that might tell the tale? I've got not guesses short of maybe an ear infection that they think require tubes. Someone just had those put in -- Sarah I think. So surgery but not so scary. Keep us posted on what the ear guy says tomorrow. Duckie Pope Pie (Sy Lehrman) wrote: > I have been taking chloroquin (I forget the full name at the moment) for > which there is a warning of rare hearing problems. I recently ran headlong [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > hearing loss to the medication? Is there some characteristic of the rare > drug connection that might tell the tale?  Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) > Pope Pie (Sy Lehrman) wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >> hearing loss to the medication? Is there some characteristic of the rare >> drug connection that might tell the tale? Ototoxic drugs do have unique types of losses. If you will get me the full name of the drug and the dose you're taking, I'll ask my wife to get you a description of the typical case. But it isn't always possible to determine the cause of a loss as most people have multiple reasons for their hearing loss. A mix of noise exposure, disease, trauma, and infection is very common. As far as PE tubes, you will probably feel relief from the fullness and pain immediately and that will more than outweigh the temporary discomfort of the procedure. Walt Hanks >> Pope Pie (Sy Lehrman) wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > Walt Hanks And that reminds me of why many of us never know the single reason for our hearing loss. Why really doesn't matter to the doctors. Not that they don't care. But other than some early sudden hearing loss that can be reversed with prednisone it just doesn't alter the course of treatment. Usually any hearing that is gone, is gone. You have to be extra careful with what ever is left. Doctors just don't have any reason to focus on things that don't affect outcome. Jo > Ototoxic drugs do have unique types of losses. If you will get me the full > name of the drug and the dose you're taking, I'll ask my wife to get you a > description of the typical case. But it isn't always possible to determine > the cause of a loss as most people have multiple reasons for their hearing > loss. A mix of noise exposure, disease, trauma, and infection is very > common. The ENT guy says that the typical hearing problem from the drugs I am taking (or in the case of diclofenac was recently taking) is ringing or buzzing in the ear. >> Ototoxic drugs do have unique types of losses. If you will get me the > full [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > in > the ear. Sy, my wife is a professor of Audiology. Audiologists are the specialists in hearing. Ringing in the ears is a symptom common to NSAID ototoxicity, but the damage can be severe and permanent. The chloroquins are not NSAIDs. The good news is though, that the hearing loss associated with this class of drugs is usually temporary. However, with both NSAIDs and the Chloroquins, the hearing loss is an early indicator of potential CNS damage. In most cases, the drugs should be stopped. Once the infection has cleared, have yourself retested by an audiologist, not a nurse or a physician. Then you will know what is left and what can be done to help. Walt Walt, Can the hearing tests tell whether hearing loss is reversible or not? Can they help tell what the cause is? Just curious! Donna G > Walt, > > Can the hearing tests tell whether hearing loss is reversible or not? > Can they help tell what the cause is? Just curious! > > Donna G In some limited cases, yes to both. If a loss is conductive, that is, caused by a mechanical problem in the ear, it may be reversible. Testing can determine if the loss is conductive. It can also, in some cases, determine if the loss is noise induced, or caused by a single trauma. But remember that most people experience mixed losses; that is, losses from multiple causes. Losses associated with specific ototoxic drugs have distinct patterns. Again, if caught early, these losses can sometimes be reversed, depending upon the drug in question. And finally, any sudden onset loss is a medical emergency. That is, a loss that just shows up with no warning. These can be caused by a virus, a tumor, a ballooning blood vessel about to rupture, a stroke, etc.... These are also sometimes reversible if caught early - as in within hours of onset. But best of all, virtually any type of loss can be aided to some degree. The old saw about "nerve deafness" being unaidable has not been true for decades. But anyone with a hearing loss needs to go to an audiologist, not just a hearing aid dealer. An audiologist will have atleast a Master's degree and the initials "CCC-A" after their name. Unless the loss is sudden onset, it is not necessary to see a physician first. The audiologist can tell you if medical consultation is needed. Walt >I have been taking chloroquin (I forget the full name at the moment) for > which there is a warning of rare hearing problems. I recently ran [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > hearing loss to the medication? Is there some characteristic of the rare > drug connection that might tell the tale? To me one of the more frustrating things about hearing loss, is that while they can usually give you a whole list of things that might have caused it, they can seldom tell you the one thing that did cause it in your particular case. I'm now profoundly deaf in my right ear, and still do not know it this was caused by drugs, (my bet is the massive doses of theophyllin I've taken over many years) or if it is autoimmune or disease, age, or inherited. For the record, if the doctor wants to put tubes in your ear(s) it is not nearly as unpleasant a procedure as you might imagine. I used to think that was a barbaric thing to do to kids till I had one put in my left ear and found it was no big deal. Plus the ear quit hurting. A very good thing. Praying for easy and prompt recovery Jo > For the record, if the doctor wants to put tubes in your ear(s) it is not > nearly as unpleasant a procedure as you might imagine. I used to think that > was a barbaric thing to do to kids till I had one put in my left ear and > found it was no big deal. Plus the ear quit hurting. A very good thing. Thanks, The ENT guy wants to try antibiotics on the theory that something must be infecting the ear just because it's connected to the recently congested nose which is uwuall full of all kinds of nasty thngs. If that doesn't work he suggests a tube, which he says really doesn't hurt much, but I've been to the dentist and I've heard THAT before. Sy, Having ear tubes placed, really is no big deal! I have a tendency to get a lot of ear infections, particularly in my right ear. I have had several sets of ear tubes placed in both ears, and trust me, it is not painful and is usually very helpful in keeping the ears drainging properly so they don't get infected so much. The actual procedure itself takes only about 15 minutes to half an hour and then you are sent home. You do have to be careful not to get a lot of water in the ear once you have a tube put in and when the tubes are first put in, you may experience a bit of humming or other type of noise in your ear, but this usually disappears within a few days to a week or so. Haveing the tubes placed and keeping the buildup of fluid from accumalating in the ear also tends to improve your hearing as well. Sometimes if you have a particularly stubborn infection, you may need both oral antibiotics as well as ear drops that are both steroid and antibiotic combined. Best of luck to you! Donna G My dx was sudden accute hearing loss....Nothing left in the right ear but a constant Whoooosh...All the time 24/7...I really can't link it to a cold or anything, although the doctors did finally say it could have possibly been a virus...I was told that a round of steroids in the beginning might have brought it back...My doctor kept treating me for an inner ear infection that I don't think I ever had... Sent me to an ENT who did hearing test and then sent me to the next in line specialist...Who did another hearing test and MRI... Found a tumor in my Right Cavernous Sinus..Which had nothing at all to do with my hearing, but I am thankful that I lost my hearing, or the tumor would have kept growing until it caused lots of damage to the nerves in my face and eyes... I am kind of like Jo...They really never gave me a reason.. Another reason..The Bell Pasley Nerve goes to the face and to the ear..When My daughter had Mono...It attacked that nerve and instead of going into the face, it went into the ear...She lost most of her earing in one ear...But the good news was that with steroids and time her hearing came back... Praying everything is resolved for you soon Hugs Cindy >I have been taking chloroquin (I forget the full name at the moment) for > which there is a warning of rare hearing problems. I recently ran [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > hearing loss to the medication? Is there some characteristic of the rare > drug connection that might tell the tale? |
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