It’s natural to want to know about the side effects of a medication when you begin using it. Can it trigger digestive problems? Will it cause dehydration? Cause insomnia? There may also be a more severe potential side effect that you might not think of – hearing loss. Many different medications are known to cause this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Specifically how many drugs are there that can cause this problem? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are recognized to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones do you need to watch out for and why?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How can a medication wreak havoc on your hearing after you swallow it? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three different places:
- 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. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to become dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
- The cochlea: That’s the seashell-shaped part of the inner ear that takes sound and translates it into an electrical signal that the brain can comprehend. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, usually starting with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that produces fluid known as endolymph. Both hearing and balance are impacted by too much or too little endolymph.
What is the risk level for each drug?
The checklist of medications that can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss might surprise you. Many of them you most likely have in your medicine cabinet even now, and it’s likely that 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:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list as well. The hearing issues due to these drugs are typically correctable when you quit taking them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be specific antibiotics. You may have heard of some of these:
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
There are also numerous other compounds that can trigger tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the result of some drugs and others might cause tinnitus. If you hear phantom noises, that may be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
- Ringing
- Popping
Specific diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are some of the primary offenders:
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
You might not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can trigger ringing in your ears. Here’s the good news, it should improve after the drug is out of your system. The following drugs are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
- 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.
There are very distinct symptoms with an ototoxic response
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus vary depending on your ear health and which medication you get.
Here are some things to check out for:
- Poor balance
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Difficulty walking
- Vomiting
Keep yourself informed by always asking your doctor about the potential side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest that you contact your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know the best course of action.
Also, schedule a hearing exam with us, a baseline hearing test is a proactive measure that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331