When you start on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be informed about any possible side effects. Can it trigger digestive problems? Will it dehydrate you? Cause sleeplessness? You might not even know about some of the more impactful side effects, including hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical term professionals have given this condition and there are many drugs that are known to cause it.
So can this problem be caused by a lot of drugs? The answer is not clear, but there are plenty that are known to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which medications do you personally need to be aware of?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three different places:
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the part of the ear situated in the middle of the labyrinth that composes the cochlea. Its principal function is to manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity medications can cause you to become dizzy or feel as if 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.
- The stria vascularis: Found in the cochlea, the stria vascularis makes endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Too much or too little endolymph has a substantial effect on both hearing and balance.
Do different drugs have different threat levels?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic reaction. Ototoxic medications are pretty common and most 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 as well. When you quit using these medications, your hearing will typically go back to normal.
Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be certain antibiotics. You may have heard of some of these:
- Streptomycin
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can induce tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the outcome of some medications and others may cause tinnitus. Here are a few ways tinnitus may present:
- Popping
- Ringing
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
Specific diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are some of the main offenders:
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
Each and 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. The good news is it should improve once the chemical is out of your system. The following medications are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
Once 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 specific symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re using and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will vary.
Be on guard for:
- Vomiting
- Difficulty walking
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Blurred vision
- Poor balance
Make sure you ask your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you experience any tinnitus symptoms that might have been caused by an ototoxic response.
Also, call us today to schedule a hearing exam to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331