It’s normal to want to understand the side effects of a medication when you start using it. Can it upset your stomach? Will it dehydrate you? Make you drowsy? You may not even know about some of the more impactful side effects, such as hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical name professionals have given this condition and there are lots of drugs that are known to cause it.
Exactly how many medications are there that can result in this issue? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are known to cause ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones should you watch out for and why?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? There are three different places certain drugs can damage your hearing:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part 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: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and situated right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. Its principal function is to regulate 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 converts sound waves into electrical signals which your brain translates into the sense of sound. When the cochlea is compromised, you will start to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
What is the risk level for each drug?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can cause an ototoxic reaction. Ototoxic medications are rather common and the majority of individuals have several of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Topping 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. The hearing problems caused by these drugs are generally reversible when you stop taking them.
Antibiotics are a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. Some of these may be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
There are also numerous other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. If you hear phantom sounds, that could be tinnitus and it usually shows up as:
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Ringing
- Thumping
Some diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
Every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that may make your ears ring. Here’s the good news, it should improve after the drug is out of your system. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to treat tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Typically, the tinnitus will clear when you stop taking the medication but always talk to your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic response
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and your hearing health, your particular symptoms will differ.
Be on guard for:
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
Make sure you ask your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend that you contact your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know the best course of action.
Also, call us today to set up a hearing exam to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331