Neither Flagyl nor Cipro include tinnitus (ringing in ears) as a reported side effect, according to my reading. Tinnitus is pretty common, though, usually without any specific cause that can be identified. It can be a heck of a nuisance when it’s severe.

”Better alternative” is  much more complicated than “less likely to cause aorta or hearing problems.” The most important question should be whether it works. Anyone on antibiotics chronically for pouchitis would benefit from having as wide a variety of effective choices as possible. If a few effective choices are found, it’s probably better to rotate among them than to avoid the one(s) with side effects that are currently trending in the news. It’s a different story, though, if you are actually experiencing significant side effects.

Yes, flagyl is well known to cause ototoxicity...deafness, tinnitus.  In adults deafness is usually not common, however in the pediatric population it can be a side effect.  Tinnitus can happen in all ages.  In my 30 years of pediatric nursing I have seen this many times.  I have no idea about the effects of Cipro.

When I was given cipro, my reaction was amnesia...i couldn't remember my name or where i was. Scary, but no tinnitus. When they stopped cipro, my memory came back.

Jaypea, Epocrates doesn’t list ototoxicity as an adverse effect of Flagyl. Can you point me to a good reference that describes this reaction?

DOG, I believe I am experiencing brain fog from cipro, and there were a few recent instances where I had to think twice about something basic.  It is somewhat subtle but the whole colitis ordeal has made me hyper vigilant about my long term health and prospects.  I know that as I'm told antibiotics are better than the damage done by mild pouchitis so I guess I will continue taking.  

A variety of clarity-of-thinking issues have been reported with Cipro. Everyone’s threshold (for what side effects are acceptable) is a personal choice. There’s always an option of looking for an alternative medication that might be better tolerated.