When you start on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be informed about any possible side effects. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it cause dehydration? Cause sleeplessness? You may not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, like hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical term professionals have given this condition and there are lots of drugs that are known to cause it.
Specifically how many medications are there that can cause this issue? The answer is unclear, but there are lots that are known to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to know about?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three distinct places:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that produces fluid called endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a significant impact on both hearing and balance.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the portion of the ear situated in the middle of the labyrinth that composes the cochlea. It helps manage balance. When a medication causes an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance issues and the feeling that the room is spinning.
- 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 begin to lose some frequencies of sound, particularly in the high-frequency range.
What is the risk level for each drug?
You may be surprised by the list of drugs that can cause an ototoxic response. Several of them you most 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.
Over-the-counter pain medication including the following top the list:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. When you quit using these drugs, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be certain antibiotics. Some of these might be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
There are also several other compounds that can trigger tinnitus
Some medications might cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. Here are a few ways tinnitus might present:
- Popping
- Ringing
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
Some diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading 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 may make your ears ring. Here’s the good news, it should clear up once the chemical is out of your system. The following drugs are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
- 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.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will vary.
Be on guard for:
- Poor balance
- Difficulty walking
- Tinnitus
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
Be sure you ask your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any tinnitus symptoms that might have been caused by an ototoxic reaction.
Also, contact 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