When you begin on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be educated about any potential side effects. Can it upset your stomach? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Make you sleepy? There could also be a more severe potential side effect that you may not be aware of – hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical name professionals have given this condition and there are many drugs that are known to cause it.
So can this problem be triggered by a lot of medications? The answer is not clear, but there are lots that are known to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones do you need to watch out for and why?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three distinct places:
- The stria vascularis: Found in the cochlea, the stria vascularis makes endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Too much or too little endolymph has a substantial 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. When a medication produces an ototoxic reaction to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance issues and the feeling that 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 perception of sound. Damage to the cochlea impacts the range of sound you can hear, typically beginning with high frequencies then extending to include lower ones.
What is the threat level for each drug?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic response. Several of them you likely have in your medicine cabinet even now, and it’s likely that 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 killers such as:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. When you stop taking these drugs, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Antibiotics are a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. You might have heard of some of these:
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
Tinnitus can also be triggered by several common compounds
Hearing loss can be the outcome of some medications and others may trigger tinnitus. Here are a few ways tinnitus might present:
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
- Popping
- Thumping
Various diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
You might not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can cause ringing in your ears. Fortunately, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to treat tinnitus are also on the list of potential causes such as:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
Once you discontinue the medication, the symptoms should clear up, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus differ depending on your ear health and which medication you get.
Be on guard for:
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Vomiting
- Poor balance
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
- Tinnitus
Keep yourself informed by always asking your physician about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. Contact your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that might have been caused by an ototoxic response.
Also, schedule a hearing test with us, a baseline hearing test is a proactive measure that can help you preserve good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331