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.