When you start on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it trigger digestive problems? Will it dehydrate you? Make you sleepy? You may not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, like hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical name professionals have given this condition and there are many drugs that are known to cause it.
Exactly how many medications are there that can cause this issue? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are recognized to cause 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? There are three distinct places certain drugs can harm your hearing:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Both hearing and balance are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and situated right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. Its principal function is to regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to become dizzy or feel like 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 affects the range of sound you can hear, usually starting with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
What is the risk level for each drug?
You may be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic response. Ototoxic medications are pretty common and most people have several of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
At the top of the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers such as:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
Aspirin, also called salicylates, is on this list as well. The hearing issues caused by these drugs are generally reversible when you quit using them.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for prevalent ototoxic medications. You may have heard of some of these:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by several common compounds
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. Here are a few ways tinnitus might present:
- Popping
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
- Ringing
Specific diuretics will also trigger tinnitus, here are a few of the main offenders:
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
Every single time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing your body to something that may make your ears ring. 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:
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
After you discontinue the medication, the symptoms should go away, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic response
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus vary depending on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
Make sure you consult your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest that you contact your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, contact us today to set up a hearing test to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
