When you start on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it cause digestive problems? Will it cause dehydration? Cause sleeplessness? You may not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, like hearing loss. Many different drugs are known to cause this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
So can this issue be triggered by a lot of drugs? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are recognized to cause ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to know about?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected 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 comprehend. When the cochlea is compromised, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and sitting right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. It helps manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity medications can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that produces fluid called endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a substantial effect on both balance and hearing.
What is the risk level for each drug?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic response. Ototoxic medications are fairly common and most people have several of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain killers such as:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list as well. When you stop using these drugs, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be specific antibiotics. Some of these may be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by a number of common compounds
Hearing loss can be the result of some medications and others may cause tinnitus. Here are a few ways tinnitus might present:
- Popping
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
- Thumping
Specific diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are some of the main offenders:
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
Every single time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that might make your ears ring. Luckily, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should recede. The following drugs are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
Once you discontinue the medication, the symptoms should go away, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has specific 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:
- Tinnitus
- Poor balance
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Difficulty walking
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
Be sure you ask your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend immediately contacting your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, give us a call today to set up a hearing exam to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331