It’s natural to want to learn about the side effects of a medication when you start taking it. Can it give you a stomach ache? Will it dehydrate you? Cause sleeplessness? There may also be a more serious potential side effect that you might not think of – hearing loss. Lots of different drugs are known to cause this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Exactly how many medications are there that can result in this problem? The answer is not clear, but there are plenty that are recognized to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to know about?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How can a pill cause problems with your hearing after you take it? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three different places:
- The cochlea: The cochlea is part of the inner ear, shaped like a seashell, that converts sound waves into electrical signals which your brain translates into the perception 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: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a significant effect on both hearing and balance.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the portion of the ear that sits in the middle of the labyrinth that makes up the cochlea. It helps manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
What is the threat level for each drug?
The checklist of drugs that can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Ototoxic medications are rather common and most individuals have several of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Over-the-counter pain medication including the following top the list:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. The hearing problems due to these drugs are generally correctable when you quit taking them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be specific antibiotics. Some of these might be familiar:
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
- Kanamycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the result of some drugs and others may trigger tinnitus. If you hear phantom noises, that could be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- Thumping
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
Various diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
You may not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can cause ringing in your ears. Here’s the good news, it should clear up after the chemical is out of your system. The following drugs are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Once you discontinue the medication, the symptoms should go away, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic response
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus differ depending on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Here are some things to watch out for:
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
- Poor balance
- Vomiting
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Tinnitus
Be certain that you consult your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any tinnitus symptoms that might have been caused by an ototoxic reaction.
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