It’s natural to want to know about the side effects of a medication when you begin taking it. Can it cause digestive issues? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Make you sleepy? There may also be a more severe possible side effect that you might not think of – hearing loss. Lots of different medications are known to trigger this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Exactly how many medications are there that can cause this problem? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic response, but just how many is still somewhat uncertain. So which medications do you personally need to know about?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a medication damage your ears after you take it? There are three distinct places specific drugs can damage your hearing:
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and situated right in the middle is the vestibule of the ear. It helps regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity medications can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
- The cochlea: The cochlea is part of the inner ear, shaped like a seashell, that transforms sound waves into electrical signals which your brain translates into the perception of sound. When the cochlea is compromised, you will start to lose some frequencies of sound, particularly in the high-frequency range.
- The stria vascularis: Found in the cochlea, the stria vascularis makes endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. 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 drugs that can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss might surprise you. Many of them you probably have in your medicine cabinet even now, and chances are 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 killers including:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. The hearing problems due to these drugs are normally correctable when you quit using them.
Antibiotics are a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. You may have heard of some of these:
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
- Kanamycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can trigger tinnitus
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. If you hear phantom noises, that might be tinnitus and it usually shows up as:
- Thumping
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
Some diuretics can also result in tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
Every single time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing your body to something that may make your ears ring. The good news is it should clear up after the chemical is out of your system. The following medications are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
Normally, the tinnitus will end when you quit taking the medication but always consult your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic reaction
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will vary.
Be on guard for:
- Poor balance
- Blurred vision
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Tinnitus
- Vomiting
- Difficulty walking
Keep yourself informed by always consulting your physician about the potential side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest immediately contacting your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know the best course of action.
Also, call us today to schedule a hearing test to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
