When you begin on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it dehydrate you? Make you sleepy? You might not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, like hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical name professionals have given this condition and there are many drugs that are known to cause it.
Specifically how many medications are there that can result in this problem? The answer is uncertain, but there are lots that are recognized to cause ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to be aware of?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a medication wreak havoc on your ears after you take it? There are three distinct places certain drugs can harm your hearing:
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the portion of the ear that sits in the middle of the labyrinth that composes the cochlea. It helps manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to become dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that produces fluid known as endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a significant 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 perception of sound. Damage to the cochlea impacts the range of sound you can hear, usually starting with high frequencies then extending to include lower ones.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
You may be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic response. Several of them you probably 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.
Over-the-counter pain medication including the following top the list:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. The hearing problems caused by these drugs are normally reversible when you stop taking them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be specific antibiotics. You might have heard of some of these:
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by a number of common compounds
Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. Here are some ways tinnitus might present:
- Ringing
- Popping
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
Certain diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are some of the primary offenders:
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
Each and every 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 medications are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
Normally, the tinnitus will end when you quit taking the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and your hearing health, your particular symptoms will differ.
Here are a few things to check out for:
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
- Difficulty walking
Be sure you consult your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest immediately contacting your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, give us a call today to set up a hearing exam to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331