It’s normal to want to understand the side effects of a medication when you begin taking it. Can it trigger digestive problems? Will it cause dry mouth? Make you sleepy? There could also be a more serious potential side effect that you might not think of – hearing loss. Many different medications are known to cause this condition which medical professionals label as ototoxicity.
Exactly how many drugs are there that can lead to this problem? The answer is unclear, but there are lots that are recognized to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which medications do you personally need to be aware of?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? There are three different places specific drugs can harm your hearing:
- 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. When the cochlea is compromised, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, particularly in the high-frequency range.
- The stria vascularis: Found in the cochlea, the stria vascularis produces endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Both balance and hearing are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the portion of the ear situated 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.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
The checklist of drugs which can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Many 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 have a headache.
Over-the-counter pain medications including the following top the list:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list too. The hearing problems due to these drugs are normally reversible when you quit taking them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be specific antibiotics. You may have heard of some of these:
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. If you hear phantom noises, that might be tinnitus and it usually shows up as:
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
- Popping
Various diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
Each and every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that may make your ears ring. Luckily, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. Ironically, some medications doctors prescribe to manage tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Once you stop using the medication, the symptoms should improve, and your doctor will be there to help you with whatever you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re using and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will differ.
Be on guard for:
- Vomiting
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Poor balance
- Difficulty walking
Keep yourself informed by always asking your doctor about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest immediately contacting your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, schedule a hearing test with us, a baseline hearing test is a proactive measure that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331