It’s normal to want to learn about the side effects of a medication when you begin using it. Can it cause digestive issues? Will it dehydrate you? Cause sleeplessness? You might not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, such as 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 drugs? The answer is unclear, but there are plenty that are known to cause ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones do you need to pay attention to 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 cochlea: That’s the seashell-shaped component of the inner ear that receives sound and converts it into an electrical signal that the brain can understand. When the cochlea is compromised, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, particularly in the high-frequency range.
- 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 regulate balance. When a medication produces an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the feeling that the room is spinning.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that generates fluid known as endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a substantial impact on both balance and hearing.
What is the threat level for each drug?
You might be surprised by the list of drugs that can result in an ototoxic reaction. Many of them you most likely 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 killers including:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. The hearing problems due to these drugs are normally reversible when you stop taking them.
Antibiotics are a close second for common ototoxic drugs. Some of these may be familiar:
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the outcome of some drugs and others may cause tinnitus. Here are a few ways tinnitus may present:
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Ringing
Some diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
Every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing your body to something that might make your ears ring. Luckily, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. The following medications are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
Typically, the tinnitus will end when you stop using the medication but always talk to your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and your hearing health, your particular symptoms will differ.
Be on guard for:
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Difficulty walking
- Poor balance
- Tinnitus
Keep yourself informed by always consulting your physician about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest that you contact your doctor to talk about 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