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 dehydrate you? Make you sleepy? There might also be a more severe potential side effect that you may not be aware of – hearing loss. Many different medications are known to trigger this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
So can this issue be triggered by a lot of medications? The answer is not clear, but there are lots that are known to cause ototoxic symptoms. So which medications do you personally need to be aware of?
What to know about ototoxicity
How can a medication wreak havoc on your ears after you take it? 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 known as endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a significant impact on both balance and hearing.
- The cochlea: That’s the seashell-shaped part of the inner ear that takes sound and converts it into an electrical signal that the brain can understand. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, usually starting with high frequencies then extending to include lower ones.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the part of the ear that sits in the middle of the labyrinth that makes up the cochlea. It helps regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
Do different drugs have different threat levels?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic reaction. Ototoxic medications are rather 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 killers such as:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. When you stop using these drugs, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for prevalent ototoxic drugs. Some of these may be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
There are also several other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. Here are some ways tinnitus may present:
- Popping
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
- Thumping
Certain diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are some of the main offenders:
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
Every single time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that might make your ears ring. Luckily, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to manage tinnitus are also on the list of potential causes such as:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
Normally, the tinnitus will end when you stop taking the medication but always consult your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus vary depending on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Be on guard for:
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Vomiting
- Tinnitus
- Poor balance
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
Be sure you ask your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. Contact your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that might have been caused by an ototoxic response.
Also, schedule a hearing examination with us, a baseline hearing test is a practical measure that can help you preserve good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331