When you begin on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Make you sleepy? There may also be a more severe potential side effect that you may not be aware of – hearing loss. Lots of different medications are known to trigger this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Exactly how many drugs are there that can lead to this problem? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic reaction, but exactly how many is still rather unclear. So, which ones do you need to pay attention to and why?
What to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? There are three distinct places certain 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 perception of sound. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, usually starting with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that generates fluid known as endolymph. Both hearing and balance are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the part of the ear that sits in the middle of the labyrinth that composes the cochlea. Its primary function is to regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity medications can cause you to become dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
The checklist of medications which can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss might surprise you. Several of them you probably have in your medicine cabinet even now, and chances are you take them before you go to bed or when you’re dealing with a headache.
At the top of the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers including:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list too. The hearing problems due to these drugs are typically reversible when you stop taking them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be certain antibiotics. Some of these may be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. If you hear phantom sounds, that could be tinnitus and it usually shows up as:
- Thumping
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
Some diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
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:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
Usually, 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 reaction
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
- Poor balance
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
Keep yourself informed by always asking your physician about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend that you contact 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 step that can help you preserve good hearing health throughout your life.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331