When you start on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be educated about any potential side effects. Can it trigger digestive problems? Will it dehydrate you? Make you sleepy? There might also be a more serious possible side effect that you may 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.
Exactly how many drugs are there that can result in this issue? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to cause an ototoxic response, but just how many is still somewhat unclear. So, which ones should you watch out for and why?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three distinct places:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Both hearing and balance are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and situated right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. Its primary function is to regulate balance. When a medication triggers an ototoxic reaction to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance issues and the feeling that the room is spinning.
- 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, particularly in the high-frequency range.
What is the risk level for each drug?
The checklist of drugs which can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Many of them you likely have in your medicine cabinet even now, and chances are you take them before you go to bed or when you have a headache.
At the top of the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain killers including:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also called salicylates, is on this list too. When you quit using these medications, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be specific antibiotics. Some of these may be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
There are also numerous other compounds that can induce tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the result of some drugs and others might trigger tinnitus. If you hear phantom sounds, that could be tinnitus and it usually shows up as:
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
- Popping
Various diuretics can also result in tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
You may not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can cause ringing in your ears. Luckily, 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:
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
Usually, the tinnitus will end when you quit taking the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus vary based on your ear health and which medication you get.
Here are some things to check out for:
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
- Vomiting
- Poor balance
- Blurred vision
Be certain that you consult your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you experience any tinnitus symptoms that may have been caused by an ototoxic reaction.
Also, call us today to set up a hearing test to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
