When you begin on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it trigger digestive problems? Will it cause dry mouth? Cause insomnia? You may not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, such as hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical name professionals have given this condition and there are many drugs that are known to cause it.
Exactly how many drugs are there that can lead to this problem? The answer is unclear, but there are lots that are recognized to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones should you watch out for and why?
What to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? There are three different places certain drugs can harm your hearing:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that produces fluid known as endolymph. Both balance and hearing are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
- The cochlea: The cochlea is part of the inner ear, shaped like a seashell, that transforms sound waves into electrical signals which your brain translates into the sense of sound. When the cochlea is damaged, you will start 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.
What is the risk level for each drug?
The checklist of drugs that can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss might surprise you. Several of them you likely have in your medicine cabinet even now, and it’s likely that you take them before you go to bed or when you’re dealing with a headache.
Over-the-counter pain medication including the following top the list:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list too. When you stop taking these medications, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be certain antibiotics. You might have heard of some of these:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
Tinnitus can also be triggered by a number of common compounds
Some medications might cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. If you hear phantom noises, that may be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
- 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
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
Every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing your body to something that could make your ears ring. Fortunately, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should recede. The following medications are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
Once you stop using the medication, the symptoms should improve, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic reaction
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and your hearing health, your particular symptoms will vary.
Be on guard for:
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Poor balance
- Vomiting
Be sure you consult your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any tinnitus symptoms that may have been caused by an ototoxic response.
Also, give us a call today to schedule a hearing exam to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
