As you may know, I have had the worst 8 months of my 10 years with Meniere's. Tried antivirals for long periods and no help for sure. I saw JimB's post last week about Nystatin, got my allergy shot doc to give me the scrip and after 2 days saw a bit of improvement, no biggy, then after 5 days I am nearly in full remission. I told my daughter yesterday that I felt the best I have in 8 months. Hearing test is way up on the 500hz, tinnitus way down and I won't get vertigo at this level of improvement. I got 100 pills from the pharmacist (talked with him before went to doc) he said he could order the 500,000 pills. I take 1/2 a pill crushed to powder and put in small glass water, 4 times a day. I also do my nasal irrigation nasaline every morning, lay on my back and let it sit in my sinuses for 60 seconds and also pinch my nose and bend forward like touching my toes so the water hits all frontal sinus (got this from online ENT). They sell oral powder Nystatin but I can't seem to find that, hard enough to find the pills, big name stores don't have it, you have to call small Pharmacies I think. Wish me luck. Try it . Nystatin is the safest of all antifungals they say.
I meant to say the pills are 500,000 units each, kinda silly, Dr. Nelson gave 500,000 units per dose, Leong and Rutka gave 100,000 per dose, so I compromised at half a pill so my dose is 250,000 units
Most pharmacies that I know can order medication if they don't have it in stock. But so glad you are getting relief! That's wonderful!
I had posted a study a few months back and to paraphrase the conclusion was if all noninvasive treatments of MM fail the patient should try an antifungal
Hello, dwaynehoover. I’m very glad to hear of your success. May your health get better and better. I asked my primary care doc to give me a blood test for fungal infection and she refused because she said I would be showing signs of infection. Do you think this would show up in a blood test? You didn’t get a test, right? You just started taking the nystatin? Without lab work proving an infection, I doubt I can get the medication.
I just had a blood test CBC which would show elevated white blood cells/ possible infection, was negative, JimB said there are other tests for fungal. I did not bother, the 100 pill bottle was $28 and all over the internet they say Nystatin doesn't even go into your bloodstream so no Liver problems to be had. In Toronto, Canada Rutka said its second line treatment for Meniere's. I admit, this could be a coincidental improvement but prior to this improvement my inner ear was at its very worst, extremely irritated and making terrible noises. Its confusing to say the least. I have also become emotionally quite depressed so taking a chance on the med was no problem for me. Read up on the safety of Nystatin. As usual, I brought in two printed up studies to the Doctor, the one from 1990's and the Leong 2014 and begged for the prescription.
Hi Dwayne, that's exciting! I'm glad you're feeling better already! I have a question, I'm wondering what symptoms have you had all this time since fungus has been in your system both Meniere's and non Meniere's related?
I have very little other problems besides Meniere's. I don't know that this isn't coincidence and I don't know that the mechanism is actually the killing off of fungus. I read in one place that Nystatin could be an immune system modulator, that is only hypothesis. I am almost as skeptical as any of the uncaring ENTs I have seen in Atlanta, GA.
You can always try a different doctor. Sometimes it may be your general MD vs the ENT, or ??? Just needs to be a doctor willing to at least try it!
I see, since you mentioned you do a nasal rinse every morning, I assumed there was more. In JimB's post he mentioned that mayoclinic says that most sinus infections are due to mold aka fungus. So do you have sinus issues or green y ellow mucus chronically?
Wish I could edit my post. I just wanted to add that I've had chronic but mild sinus infection that doesn't really go away, if sniffing it out in the hot shower it's cloudy white, if it has dried up most often it's yellow and sometimes green. I wonder if all the excess years of this has caused my balance problem and tinnitus..
I have always been helped with my Meniere's greatly by nasal irrigation. However this last 8 months the nasal irrig. was seemingly not helping until I began the Nystatin. I don't understand.
its interesting too because many of us with MM also have sinus infections often or chronic ones. My congestion is usually clear though.
I am on my 10th day of doing good, only symptom left is fluctuating tinnitus still quite disturbing but not as loud as 10 days ago, hearing still quite good on my test.
Something tells me Nystatin, a good medical grade probiotic and Immulox/colostrum could benefit a lot of people.
Well, on day 12, crashed and burned, yesterday a bit worse, today no hearing Rt ear and woozy, same crap different day. Nystatin was temporary help? or just coincidence?