When you start 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? Cause insomnia? You may not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, including hearing loss. Many different drugs are known to trigger this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Exactly how many drugs are there that can cause this problem? Well, there are a number of medications known to trigger an ototoxic reaction, but just how many is still somewhat uncertain. So which drugs do you personally need to be aware of?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How can a pill cause problems with your hearing after you swallow it? There are three different places specific drugs can damage your hearing:
- 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. When a medication causes an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the sensation that the room is spinning.
- The cochlea: The cochlea is part of the inner ear, shaped like a seashell, that converts sound waves into electrical signals which your brain translates into the perception of sound. When the cochlea is damaged, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, particularly in the high-frequency range.
- The stria vascularis: Situated in the cochlea, the stria vascularis generates endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Both hearing and balance are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
What is the threat level for each drug?
You may be surprised by the list of drugs that can cause an ototoxic reaction. Ototoxic medications are fairly common and the majority of people have a few of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
At the top of the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers such as:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list too. When you quit using these drugs, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. Some of these might be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by a number of common compounds
Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. If you hear phantom sounds, that may be tinnitus and it normally shows up as:
- Popping
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
- Thumping
Some diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
Every single time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing 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:
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
Typically, the tinnitus will clear when you quit taking the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus vary based on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Here are some things to check out for:
- Poor balance
- Blurred vision
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Difficulty walking
- Tinnitus
- Vomiting
Be certain that you consult your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest immediately contacting 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 practical 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