HISSING NOISE OR TINITUS IN EAR

Nov 21, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR IAM 41 MALE FROM INDIA I HAVE BEEN TAKING VIRADAY FROM 12 SEPTEMBER. MY CD 4 IS 346 . AFTER TAKING PILLS FOR 5 DAYS I HAD SLIGHT HISSING NOISE FROM BOTH THE EARS . I HAVE CONTACTED ENT DOCTORS BUT COULDNT HELP. AFTER 55 DAYS OF TAKING VIRADAY NOW I HAVE MILD FEVER FROM 99.9 100.1 . I ADMITTED HOSPITAL FOR HPTC AND OTHER CHECK UP. EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL EXCEPT ALT(SGPT)SERUM 92 WHICH IS NOT NORMAL. BEFORE I USED TO TAKE ZIDOUVIDINE LAMIUIDINE ANS NEVRAPINE. SINCE THERE WAS SERIOUS SKIN RASH I CHANGED TO VIRADAY FROM CIPLA. I STARTED ART ON JULY 7 2012. MY HEMOGLOBINE WAS REDUCED WHILE TAKING ZIDOVIDINE AND LAMIUDINE. NOW UNDER CONTROL. ANY ALTERNATIVE IS AVAILABLE KINDLY HELP DOCTOR. NEXT WEEK I HAVE APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL DOCTOR. WHEN I GO OUT SIDE I CAN FEEL HISSING NOISE DUE TO OUTSIDE SORROUNDINGS. BUT WHILE SLEEPING I CAAN FEEL. KINDLY HELP

Response from Dr. Henry

Hissing in ear (or ringing) is often called tinnitus. That condition is often seen in the general population. Nerve damage/irritation, nasal allergies that alter fluid drainage from middle ear, ear was build-up, exposure to loud sounds, use of in ear headphone and many other factors can cause the condition. A good ear /ENT exam is recommended if persistent. I have seen a few patients where it seemed to be triggered by an HIV drug (lamivudine/emtricibine in a few cases) but that is out of thousands of patients that have taken those drugs in our clinic so overall risk from HIV drugs is very low. KH