It’s normal to want to understand the side effects of a medication when you start taking it. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it cause dehydration? Make you drowsy? 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 lots of drugs that are known to cause it.
Specifically how many drugs are there that can result in this problem? Well, there are a number of medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic reaction, but exactly how many is still somewhat unclear. So, which ones do you need to watch out for and why?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a medication damage your ears after you swallow it? There are three different places specific 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 sitting right in the middle is the vestibule of the ear. Its primary function is to manage balance. When a medication produces an ototoxic reaction to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the feeling that the room is spinning.
- The cochlea: The cochlea is part of the inner ear, shaped like a seashell, that transforms sound waves into electrical signals which your brain translates into the sense of sound. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, typically beginning with high frequencies then extending to include lower ones.
Do different drugs have different threat levels?
The checklist of medications which can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Ototoxic medications are pretty common and most individuals have a few of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
At the top of the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain killers such as:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list too. When you quit using these medications, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. Some of these might be familiar:
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
There are also numerous other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the outcome of some drugs and others might trigger tinnitus. Here are some ways tinnitus may present:
- Thumping
- Ringing
- Popping
- A whooshing sound
Some diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
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 recede. The following drugs are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
Typically, the tinnitus will clear when you stop using the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will vary.
Here are a few things to check out for:
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
Be certain that you consult your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend immediately contacting your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, call 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