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 issues? Will it cause dry mouth? Make you sleepy? You might not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, including hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical name professionals have given this condition and there are many drugs that are known to cause it.
Specifically how many drugs are there that can result in this problem? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are known to cause ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones do you need to pay attention to and why?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three different places:
- 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 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.
- 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 causes an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance issues and the sensation that the room is spinning.
- The stria vascularis: Located in the cochlea, the stria vascularis generates endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Too much or too little endolymph has a substantial effect on both balance and hearing.
What is the risk level for each drug?
The checklist of drugs which can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss might surprise you. 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 have a headache.
Over-the-counter pain medications including the following top the list:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list too. When you stop using these medications, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. You might have heard of some of these:
- Streptomycin
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
There are also several other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some medications may cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. Here are a few ways tinnitus might present:
- Ringing
- Popping
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
Specific diuretics will also trigger tinnitus, here are some of the primary offenders:
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
Every single time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that could make your ears ring. Here’s the good news, it should improve after the chemical is out of your system. Ironically, some medications doctors prescribe to manage tinnitus are also on the list of potential causes such as:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Once you discontinue the medication, the symptoms should improve, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re using and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will vary.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Poor balance
- Difficulty walking
- Vomiting
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
Keep yourself informed by always consulting your doctor about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend immediately contacting your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, contact us today to schedule a hearing test to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
