When you begin on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be educated about any potential side effects. Can it cause digestive problems? Will it cause dry mouth? Make you drowsy? You may not even know about some of the more impactful side effects, like hearing loss. Lots of different drugs are known to cause this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Exactly how many medications are there that can cause this issue? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to cause an ototoxic response, but exactly how many is still rather unclear. So, which ones do you need to pay attention to and why?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three different places:
- The stria vascularis: Situated in the cochlea, the stria vascularis produces endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Both hearing and balance are impacted by too much or too little endolymph.
- 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. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, usually beginning with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and situated right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. It helps manage balance. When a medication triggers an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the feeling that the room is spinning.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
The checklist of medications that can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss might surprise you. Ototoxic medications are rather common and most people have a few of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers including:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list as well. When you stop taking these medications, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be certain antibiotics. You might have heard of some of these:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by a number of common compounds
Hearing loss can be the result of some drugs and others may cause tinnitus. Here are a few ways tinnitus may present:
- Ringing
- Popping
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
Various diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
Every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing your body to something that could make your ears ring. Fortunately, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. The following medications are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
Once you stop using the medication, the symptoms should clear up, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
There are very distinct symptoms with an ototoxic response
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus differ based on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Here are some things to watch out for:
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
- Poor balance
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
Make sure you ask your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that may have been caused by an ototoxic response.
Also, schedule a hearing test with us, a baseline hearing test is a proactive step that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
