When you start on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be informed about any potential side effects. Can it upset your stomach? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Make you drowsy? There might also be a more serious potential side effect that you may not be aware of – hearing loss. Many different medications are known to cause this condition which medical professionals label as ototoxicity.
So can this issue be caused by a lot of drugs? Well, there are numerous medications known to cause an ototoxic reaction, but exactly how many is still rather unclear. So, which ones should you watch out for and why?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? There are three distinct places specific drugs can harm your hearing:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that produces fluid called endolymph. Both hearing and balance are impacted 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 compromised, 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 middle is the vestibule of the ear. It helps regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to become dizzy or feel like the room is spinning.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
The checklist of drugs that can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Ototoxic medications are rather common and the majority of individuals have several of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers including:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. The hearing issues caused by these drugs are generally reversible when you quit taking them.
Antibiotics are a close second for common ototoxic drugs. Some of these might be familiar:
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by several common compounds
Hearing loss can be the result of some medications and others might cause tinnitus. If you hear phantom sounds, that might be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Thumping
- Ringing
Some diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
You may not be aware 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 manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
Normally, the tinnitus will clear when you stop taking the medication but always consult your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic reaction
Depending on what specific medications you’re using and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will differ.
Be on guard for:
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
- Poor balance
- Vomiting
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Difficulty walking
Be sure you consult your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed might 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 response.
Also, call us today to schedule a hearing test to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331