When you start on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it give you a stomach ache? Will it dehydrate you? Make you drowsy? You might not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, like hearing loss. Many different medications are known to trigger this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
So can this problem be triggered by a lot of medications? Well, there are a number of medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic reaction, but exactly how many is still somewhat unclear. So, which ones do you need to pay attention to and why?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three distinct places:
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the portion 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 get dizzy or feel like the room is spinning.
- The cochlea: That’s the seashell-shaped part of the inner ear that receives sound and converts it into an electrical signal that the brain can comprehend. 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 portion of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Both balance and hearing are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
What is the risk level for each drug?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic reaction. Many 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’re dealing with a headache.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers such as:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. The hearing issues due to these drugs are normally reversible when you stop taking them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be specific antibiotics. Some of these might be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. If you hear phantom sounds, that might be tinnitus and it usually shows up as:
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
- Ringing
- Popping
Various diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
Each and every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that may make your ears ring. Luckily, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. The following drugs are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Once you discontinue 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 differ depending on your ear health and which medication you get.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Difficulty walking
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
- Vomiting
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
Keep yourself informed by always asking your physician about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest immediately contacting your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, schedule a hearing exam with us, a baseline hearing test is a practical measure that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331