When you begin on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be informed about any potential side effects. Can it give you a stomach ache? Will it cause dehydration? Make you sleepy? There might also be a more serious possible side effect that you might not be aware of – hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical term professionals have given this condition and there are lots of drugs that are known to cause it.
So can this issue be caused by a lot of medications? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are known to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to know about?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a medication wreak havoc on your ears after you take it? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three different places:
- The cochlea: That’s the seashell-shaped component of the inner ear that receives sound and translates it into an electrical signal that the brain can comprehend. When the cochlea is compromised, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, particularly in the high-frequency range.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the portion of the ear that sits in the middle of the labyrinth that composes the cochlea. Its principal function is to manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to become dizzy or feel like the room is spinning.
- The stria vascularis: Located in the cochlea, the stria vascularis produces endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Both balance and hearing are impacted by too much or too little endolymph.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
You may be surprised by the list of drugs that can cause an ototoxic response. 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.
Over-the-counter pain medication like the following top the list:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
Aspirin, also called salicylates, is on this list as well. The hearing issues caused by these drugs are typically reversible when you stop taking them.
Antibiotics are a close second for prevalent ototoxic drugs. You may have heard of some of these:
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
There are also numerous other compounds that can induce tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the outcome of some drugs and others might cause tinnitus. If you hear phantom sounds, that may be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- Popping
- Ringing
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
Some diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
You might not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can cause ringing in your ears. Here’s the good news, it should clear up once the drug is out of your system. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to manage tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Typically, the tinnitus will end when you stop taking the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and your hearing health, your particular symptoms will vary.
Be on guard for:
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Poor balance
- Vomiting
- Difficulty walking
Keep yourself informed by always consulting your physician about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend immediately contacting your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know the best course of action.
Also, schedule a hearing exam with us, a baseline hearing test is a proactive step that can help you preserve good hearing health throughout your life.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331