When you start on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be educated about any potential side effects. Can it upset your stomach? Will it cause dry mouth? Cause sleeplessness? You may not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, like 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 medications? The answer is not clear, but there are lots that are known to cause ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to be aware of?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a medication damage your ears after you take it? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three different places:
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and sitting right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. Its main function is to manage balance. When a medication triggers an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the feeling that the room is spinning.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that generates fluid known as endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a substantial effect on both hearing and balance.
- 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 begin to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can cause an ototoxic reaction. Many of them you most likely have in your medicine cabinet even now, and it’s likely that you take them before you go to bed or when you’re dealing with a headache.
At the top of the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers such as:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. When you stop taking these drugs, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for common ototoxic medications. You may have heard of some of these:
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by a number of common compounds
Some medications may cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. Here are some ways tinnitus may present:
- Ringing
- Popping
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
Certain diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are a few of the main offenders:
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
You might not be aware that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can trigger ringing in your ears. Here’s the good news, it should clear up after the drug is out of your system. The following drugs are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
After you stop using the medication, the symptoms should clear up, and your doctor will be there to help you with whatever you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has specific 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
- Vomiting
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Difficulty walking
- Blurred vision
Be certain that you consult your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that may have been caused by an ototoxic reaction.
Also, give us a call 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