When you begin on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be informed about any potential side effects. Can it give you a stomach ache? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Cause sleeplessness? There could also be a more severe potential side effect that you may not think of – hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical term professionals have given this condition and there are lots of drugs that are known to cause it.
So can this problem be triggered by a lot of medications? The answer is uncertain, but there are lots that are known to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which medications do you personally need to know about?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three distinct places:
- The cochlea: That’s the seashell-shaped component of the inner ear that takes sound and converts it into an electrical signal that the brain can understand. When the cochlea is damaged, you will start to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the part of the ear that sits in the middle of the labyrinth that makes up the cochlea. Its main function is to regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to become dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that generates fluid known as endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a significant impact on both balance and hearing.
What is the risk level for each drug?
The checklist of medications which can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Several of them you most likely have in your medicine cabinet even now, and it’s likely that you take them before you go to bed or when you have a headache.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers such as:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also called salicylates, is on this list too. When you quit using these drugs, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Antibiotics are a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. Some of these might be familiar:
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
There are also several other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the outcome of some drugs and others might cause tinnitus. Here are some ways tinnitus might present:
- Popping
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
Some diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
You may not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can cause ringing in your ears. The good news is it should improve once the chemical is out of your system. Ironically, some medications doctors prescribe to manage tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
Normally, the tinnitus will clear when you quit taking the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very distinct symptoms with an ototoxic response
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus differ depending on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Be on guard for:
- Vomiting
- Poor balance
- Difficulty walking
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
Be certain that you ask your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest that you contact your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, schedule a hearing test with us, a baseline hearing test is a practical measure that can help you preserve good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331