It’s normal to want to know about the side effects of a medication when you begin taking it. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Make you drowsy? You might not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, including hearing loss. Many different drugs are known to cause this condition which medical professionals label as ototoxicity.
So can this problem be caused by a lot of medications? The answer is unclear, but there are plenty that are recognized to cause ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones should you pay attention to and why?
What to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three distinct places:
- 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 sense of sound. When the cochlea is compromised, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that produces fluid known as endolymph. Both hearing and balance are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and sitting right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. Its primary function is to manage balance. When a medication produces an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance issues and the sensation that the room is spinning.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
The checklist of medications that can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Several of them you most likely 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 relievers such as:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. The hearing problems caused by these drugs are normally reversible when you stop taking them.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for common ototoxic drugs. You might have heard of some of these:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
There are also numerous other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. If you hear phantom noises, that may be tinnitus and it normally shows up as:
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
- Popping
- Thumping
Various diuretics can also result in tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
Every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing your body to something that may make your ears ring. Here’s the good news, it should clear up once the drug is out of your system. The following medications are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
After you stop using the medication, the symptoms should clear up, and your doctor will be there to help you with whatever you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus vary depending on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Vomiting
- Poor balance
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
Keep yourself informed by always asking your doctor about the potential side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that might have been caused by an ototoxic response.
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