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Can Azithromycin Cause Hearing Loss?
Posted on
Fri, 14 Apr 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 14 Apr 2017
Answered on
Fri, 5 May 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : I recently took a Azithromycin and am experiencing hearing loss. Could the antibiotic be cause? Could it be permanent?
Brief Answer:
it could cause hearing loss
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
azithromycin may indeed cause hearing loss. This is a rare side effect though, so other causes have to be investigated first. For example otitis (which may occur during the course of other upper respiratory tract infections) may cause hearing loss (usually transient).
Kind Regards!
it could cause hearing loss
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
azithromycin may indeed cause hearing loss. This is a rare side effect though, so other causes have to be investigated first. For example otitis (which may occur during the course of other upper respiratory tract infections) may cause hearing loss (usually transient).
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
It's been three days since I've experienced hearing loss. What follow up tests can I have done to determine if loss is permanent?
Brief Answer:
you can't say if it's permanent or not
Detailed Answer:
There are no tests to determine the timespan of this deficit. You can do a baseline hearing test (conducted by an ENT specialist) so that you can have something to compare your progress. Whether it's transient or permanent depends more on the cause than on anything else. If it's a drug that cause dit then it's uncertain whether it will get better or not. Sometimes it does, other times it doesn't...
The ENT specialist may determine (with tests) the exact anatomic structure that malfunctioned and suggest treatment (if applicable). For example hearing loss caused by cerumen impaction can be easily managed (by manual removal of cerumen and by irrigating the external ear canal).
Kind Regards!
you can't say if it's permanent or not
Detailed Answer:
There are no tests to determine the timespan of this deficit. You can do a baseline hearing test (conducted by an ENT specialist) so that you can have something to compare your progress. Whether it's transient or permanent depends more on the cause than on anything else. If it's a drug that cause dit then it's uncertain whether it will get better or not. Sometimes it does, other times it doesn't...
The ENT specialist may determine (with tests) the exact anatomic structure that malfunctioned and suggest treatment (if applicable). For example hearing loss caused by cerumen impaction can be easily managed (by manual removal of cerumen and by irrigating the external ear canal).
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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