AboutNigel Simmons Expertise I am happy to answer general questions on medicines and hospital care. If possible, please use approved / chemical names rather than brands which are not internationally recognised.
Like all health professionals I am bound by a duty of care which prevents me giving detailed information about medication or treatment of people other than the questioner.
I will endeavour to help wherever possible or point towards more appropriate advice. If however your question crosses too far into patient confidentiality, I hope you will understand why I cannot answer your question.
Consider.. would you want me to discuss your care with a friend or relative without your knowledge?
Experience Registered as a UK pharmacist in 1982 and have worked in a number of hospital and health management posts around the UK. Formerly Chief Pharmacist for a 440 bed general hospital in Cambridgeshire.
Past/Present clients Previously Sysop on CompuServe UK Professionals forum.
My doctor gave me prozac for OCD
But I read it was ototoxic, so I'm not taking it - do you know of any medication I can ask my doctor about that isn't ototoxic?
Thanks
Answer Nicola
As far as I am aware there is no formally defined adverse effect on hearing as a result of taking Prozac. As you can see from the main US and UK product monographs, there is no specific statement.
However, like all drugs acting on the brain and its chemistry, it is possible that side effects such as tinnitus or dizziness may occur, but specific ototoxicity leading to deafness does seem unlikely. Were it an established risk, it would be referenced in the product monographs.
Without knowing the source where you found the information I cannot comment on its quality, but given the many millions of people taking Prozac and the lowest level of side-effect usually listed is around 1 in 100,000, I would suggest that any risk is very small. Ultimately though, the decision is yours.
As for other treatments, the normal approach to OCD is to use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help manage the psychological elements of the problem. Adding in a serotoninergic drug such as Prozac helps. If you don't want to use Prozac, then another drug in the class may be an option, but the very small potential risk would still be there for those or any other centrally acting drug.
