(Note. I put this in GQ instead of MPSIMS because it is essentially a question.)
For some time now, I have had a chronic infection of the eyelid, esp. the left one. It has been more of an inconvenience than a problem, and other doctors have tried to cure it in the past, with limited (if any) success.
Then I had a discussion with my eye doctor. I actually was telling her of a discussion with another doctor. I told him that (TMI alert) I wake up in the morning with mucous draining down my left nostril esp. He agreed something must be done.
So the eye doc put me on an antibiotic, I assume a stronger one. I got the Rx filled. But when I got it home, I noticed something. Along with a bunch of apparently anti-inflammatory drugs, it had neomycin in it. Last I heard, neomycin is damaging to the hearing and kidneys. And I could be imagining things. But I could swear I have to put the tv volume higher when I watch it (but realize the volume was already low, and hearing can sometimes be so subjective anyways).
I also emphasize she is a good doctor, and I have the utmost confidence in her. And as I said in the title, it is a salve. I am not taking it internally.
So do the rest of you think I have to fear? And what would you do in my position?
Neomycin is a popular topical. Heard of Neosporin? As long as you aren’t allergic, then unless you decide to eat an entire container, you won’t have any side effects from it. Even then, you’re most likely to just get diarrhea. Whatever you heard may be related to long term ingested use at high doses. AFAIK, it’s poorly absorbed systemically, and mostly stays in the digestive tract.
And while this is a question, it’s still a medically related question to which people like me can answer, even though IANAD, so reported for forum change.
What SeaDragonTattoo said. Not only is that stuff in Neosporin, they also apparently still prescribe it as an oral medication. I would use it without a second thought. (Disclaimer: I work in ophthalmology, but IANAD/N.)
All the antibiotics ending in -mycin CAN cause hearing loss, but it’s still a pretty rare side effect, and it’s usually dose dependent and more common in people with preexisting kidney failure (that is, a high, internal dose given to someone who’s already on the borderline as far as kidney function goes is going to have my heightened attention).
A ringing in the ears is what most people report, before or instead of actual hearing loss, but the hearing loss can happen without ringing in the ears, too.
If you are also on other drugs that can cause this (aspirin, loop diuretics like Lasix, quinine), then I’d be more worried, but if all you’re on is the Neomycin salve, I’d be far less concerned. But yes, if you’re worried, call your doctor. If she’s concerned, she can send you for actual tests that are more reliable than the TV volume.
Well, funny you should ask. I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine long before I became an RN. In TCM, hearing and Kidneys are totally, inextricably related. If you’re going deaf, a TCM practitioner is going to put you on a Kidney tonic 9 times out of 10, and do acupunture to strengthen and tonify the Kidney. Now, in TCM, Kidney means the energy which is most linked with and related to those bean shaped organs in your middle, as well as the meridians (energy lines) connected to them - they may identify a Kidney deficiency long before a western doctor would find an actual problem with your kidneys, the organs. The connection between Kidney deficiencies and hearing loss has been established and written about for over 2000 years in TCM. (there are several specific Kidney deficiencies associated with hearing loss, Kidney Yin being one of the more common pathological ones, and another is Jing deficiency which we all experience sooner or later as we age and die.)
But as for western medicine…The first study I’m aware of was done in 2010. And, yes, they did find a connection - not a causation, but a correlation - between moderate kidney disease and hearing loss in older adults. As far as I know, they haven’t yet figured out WHY, although the easiest but probably not complete answer is that some of the drugs used to treat kidney disease (like those loop-diuretics I mentioned) are ototoxic (damaging to hearing). I don’t think that’s the whole answer though, nor do researchers. Some diseases which impact the kidney also impact the hearing. We’re not sure why, although it’s speculated that it’s because the tissue inside the kidney is made of the same stuff as the tissue inside the cochlea, and things that damage that sort of tissue often hit both.
It’s also been found (in western medicine) that some hearing-impairing birth defects happen to be found with some kidney-impairing birth defects. It’s speculated that this is because some of the ear is formed in the embryo at the same time as some of the renal system. If a teratogen (birth defect causing chemical) is ingested, or the mother suffers an infection that affects the fetal development between the 5th and 8th weeks of pregnancy, it may cause a defect in both systems.
In TCM, we say that if the Jing (the part of the life force that you get from your parents during conception and pregnancy) is weak, the Kidneys and hearing are weak, and the Jing lives in the Kidneys. So if a baby is born with weak Jing, both the Kidneys and hearing will be impaired.
I kinda love it when my TCM and Western medicine backgrounds come together like this.
I just called the doctor’s office moments ago. The doctor wasn’t in, but I got a technician. She said that hearing loss only comes with “extreme” and “prolonged” use of neomycin. That’s a relief.
BTW, why do medical questions belong in IMHO? I don’t see the logic. Why are medical questions my “humble opinion” ?
Because any old anonymous dumbass with no qualifications can post any old answer, no matter how right or wrong it may be. By using the IMHO forum, it’s clear that the posts are at your own risk as opinions, not to be mistaken as actual, factual medical advice. Reasonable prudence on an anonymous message board where credentials don’t exist.
This would also be a good question to ask your friendly neighborhood pharmacist. They really do know a ton about drugs and interactions.
As an aside, I am allergic to neomycin. It’s annoying. I haven’t found a single over the counter antibiotic ointment that I can use. I keep prescription stuff around the house, just in case.
