When you start on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it cause digestive issues? Will it dehydrate you? Cause insomnia? There may also be a more severe possible side effect that you might not think of – hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical term professionals have given this condition and there are many drugs that are known to cause it.
Exactly how many drugs are there that can result in this issue? Well, there are numerous medications known to cause an ototoxic response, but exactly how many is still somewhat uncertain. So which medications do you personally need to know about?
What to know about ototoxicity
How can a pill wreak havoc on your ears after you take it? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three different places:
- 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, particularly in the high-frequency range.
- The stria vascularis: Found in the cochlea, the stria vascularis makes endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Both balance and hearing are impacted by too much or too little endolymph.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the part of the ear situated in the middle of the labyrinth that makes up the cochlea. It helps 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.
What is the risk level for each drug?
You may be surprised by the list of medications that can cause an ototoxic response. Many 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.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers including:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. The hearing problems caused by these drugs are typically reversible when you quit using them.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for prevalent ototoxic medications. You may have heard of some of these:
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can induce tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the outcome of some drugs and others may trigger tinnitus. If you hear phantom noises, that could be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- Popping
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
- Ringing
Specific diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are some of the main offenders:
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
You may not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can trigger ringing in your ears. The good news is it should improve after the drug is out of your system. The following medications are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
Usually, the tinnitus will clear when you stop using the medication but always talk to your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic response
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will vary.
Here are some things to check out for:
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
- Vomiting
- Poor balance
Keep yourself informed by always asking your physician about the potential side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend immediately contacting your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know the best course of action.
Also, schedule a hearing exam with us, a baseline hearing test is a proactive step that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331