When you start on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be informed about any possible side effects. Can it cause digestive issues? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Make you drowsy? There may also be a more serious possible side effect that you may not be aware of – 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 issue be triggered by a lot of drugs? Well, there are numerous medications known to cause an ototoxic response, but exactly how many is still rather uncertain. So, which ones should you watch out for and why?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be impacted by medication? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three distinct places:
- The stria vascularis: Situated in the cochlea, the stria vascularis makes endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Too much or too little endolymph has a substantial impact on both hearing and balance.
- 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 perception of sound. When the cochlea is damaged, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and sitting right in the middle is the vestibule of the ear. Its main function is to manage balance. When a medication triggers 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 threat levels?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can cause an ototoxic reaction. Many of them you probably have in your medicine cabinet even now, and chances are you take them before you go to bed or when you’re dealing with a headache.
Over-the-counter pain medications like the following top the list:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
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 medications would be specific antibiotics. Some of these might be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by a number of common compounds
Hearing loss can be the outcome of some medications and others may trigger tinnitus. If you hear phantom sounds, that may be tinnitus and it normally shows up as:
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Ringing
Some diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
You might not be aware that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can cause ringing in your ears. The good news is it should clear up once the drug is out of your system. The following drugs are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
- Prednisone
Usually, the tinnitus will end when you stop using the medication but always talk to your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very distinct symptoms with an ototoxic response
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus vary depending on your ear health and which medication you get.
Here are some things to watch out for:
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
- Poor balance
- Tinnitus
- Vomiting
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
Be certain that you ask your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that may have been caused by an ototoxic reaction.
Also, schedule a hearing exam with us, a baseline hearing test is a practical step that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331