It’s natural to want to know about the side effects of a medication when you begin taking it. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it cause dehydration? Cause insomnia? There could also be a more severe possible side effect that you may not be aware of – hearing loss. Lots of different drugs are known to cause this condition which medical professionals label as ototoxicity.
Specifically how many medications are there that can result in this problem? The answer is unclear, but there are plenty that are recognized to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to be aware of?
What to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? There are three different places specific drugs can harm your hearing:
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and situated right in the middle is the vestibule of the ear. It helps regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to get 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 damaged, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Both hearing and balance are impacted by too much or too little endolymph.
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 people 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
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. The hearing problems due to these drugs are normally reversible when you stop using them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be certain antibiotics. You might have heard of some of these:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can induce tinnitus
Hearing loss can be the result of some drugs and others might cause tinnitus. If you hear phantom sounds, that could be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
- Popping
Certain diuretics will also trigger tinnitus, here are some of the primary offenders:
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
You might 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 treat tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
Normally, the tinnitus will clear when you stop using the medication but always consult your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very distinct symptoms with an ototoxic response
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and your hearing health, your particular symptoms will vary.
Here are a few things to check out for:
- Poor balance
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Difficulty walking
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
Keep yourself informed by always consulting your physician about the potential side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about 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, give us a call today to schedule 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
