When you start on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be informed about any possible side effects. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it dehydrate you? Cause insomnia? 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 trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to be aware of?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a pill damage your hearing after you take it? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three distinct places:
- 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 impacts the range of sound you can hear, typically starting with high frequencies then extending to include lower ones.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that produces fluid called 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 composes the cochlea. Its principal function is to manage 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.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
The checklist of drugs 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.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers including:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. When you stop taking these drugs, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. You may have heard of some of these:
- Streptomycin
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
There are also several other compounds that can induce tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the result of some drugs and others may cause tinnitus. Here are some ways tinnitus might present:
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Thumping
Certain diuretics will also trigger tinnitus, here are some of the main offenders:
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
You may not be aware that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can cause ringing in your ears. Luckily, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should recede. Ironically, some medications doctors prescribe to manage tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
After you stop using the medication, the symptoms should clear up, and your doctor will be there to help you with whatever you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has particular symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and your hearing health, your particular symptoms will vary.
Here are some things to check out for:
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Tinnitus
- Poor balance
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Difficulty walking
Keep yourself informed by always consulting your doctor about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any tinnitus symptoms that may have been caused by an ototoxic reaction.
Also, give us a call today to set up a hearing test to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331