It’s normal to want to know about the side effects of a medication when you start taking it. Can it upset your stomach? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Make you drowsy? You might not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, like hearing loss. Lots of different drugs are known to cause this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Specifically how many medications are there that can lead to this problem? Well, there are numerous medications known to trigger an ototoxic reaction, but exactly how many is still rather unclear. So which drugs do you personally need to be aware of?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? There are three distinct places certain drugs can damage your hearing:
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and sitting right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. It helps manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
- 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 sense of sound. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, typically beginning with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
- The stria vascularis: Located in the cochlea, the stria vascularis produces endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Too much or too little endolymph has a significant effect on both balance and hearing.
What is the threat level for each drug?
You may be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic reaction. Ototoxic medications are fairly common and the majority of individuals have a few of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain killers including:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. The hearing issues due to these drugs are typically reversible when you quit taking them.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for well-known ototoxic medications. Some of these might be familiar:
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
Tinnitus can also be triggered by several common compounds
Hearing loss can be the result of some medications and others may cause tinnitus. If you hear phantom noises, that could be tinnitus and it normally shows up as:
- Ringing
- Popping
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
Various diuretics can also result in tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
Each and every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing your body to something that could make your ears ring. Fortunately, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should recede. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to treat tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
Normally, the tinnitus will clear when you quit taking the medication but always talk to your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very distinct symptoms with an ototoxic reaction
Depending on what specific medications you’re using and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will differ.
Be on guard for:
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
- Vomiting
- Difficulty walking
Make sure you consult your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest immediately contacting your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, schedule a hearing exam with us, a baseline hearing test is a practical measure that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331