It’s natural to want to know about the side effects of a medication when you begin taking it. Can it give you a stomach ache? 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, including hearing loss. Lots of different drugs are known to trigger this condition which medical professionals label as ototoxicity.
So can this issue be caused by a lot of drugs? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are recognized to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to know about?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a pill damage your ears after you take it? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three distinct places:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that produces fluid known as endolymph. Both balance and hearing 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 makes up the cochlea. Its primary function is to regulate balance. When a medication causes an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the sensation 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. When the cochlea is damaged, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, particularly in the high-frequency range.
What is the risk level for each drug?
The checklist of drugs that can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Ototoxic medications are rather 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 relievers including:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list as well. When you stop taking these medications, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Antibiotics are a close second for common ototoxic drugs. Some of these might be familiar:
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
There are also numerous other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. If you hear phantom noises, that could be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Thumping
- Ringing
Certain diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are some of the primary offenders:
- Nicotine
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
- Marijuana
Every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that might make your ears ring. Here’s the good news, it should improve after the chemical is out of your system. The following drugs are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
Typically, the tinnitus will clear when you quit taking the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus vary depending on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Be on guard for:
- Blurred vision
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
- Vomiting
- Poor balance
Make sure you consult your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend immediately contacting your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know the best course of action.
Also, schedule a hearing examination with us, a baseline hearing test is a practical step that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331