It’s natural to want to understand the side effects of a medication when you begin taking it. Can it give you a stomach ache? Will it dehydrate you? Cause insomnia? You may not even know about some of the more impactful side effects, including hearing loss. Lots of different drugs are known to trigger this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
So can this issue be caused by a lot of medications? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic reaction, but just how many is still somewhat unclear. So which medications do you personally need to be aware of?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three different places:
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and situated right in the middle is the vestibule of the ear. It helps regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
- 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 balance and hearing.
- 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. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, typically starting with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
What is the threat level for each drug?
You might be surprised by the list of drugs that can result in an ototoxic response. 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 have a headache.
Over-the-counter pain medication like the following top the list:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list too. The hearing issues caused by these drugs are typically reversible when you stop using them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be specific antibiotics. You might have heard of some of these:
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
- Kanamycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by a number of common compounds
Hearing loss can be the result of some medications and others may trigger tinnitus. If you hear phantom sounds, that could be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- Thumping
- Popping
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
Some diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
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. The good news is it should improve once the drug is out of your system. The following medications are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Normally, 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 distinct symptoms with an ototoxic response
Depending on what specific medications you’re using and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will vary.
Here are a few things to check out for:
- Vomiting
- Difficulty walking
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
- Poor balance
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
Keep yourself informed by always asking your doctor 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 what’s best.
Also, call us 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
