When you begin 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 cause dehydration? Make you drowsy? 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 lots of drugs that are known to cause it.
So can this issue be triggered by a lot of medications? The answer is unclear, but there are lots that are known to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones do you need to pay attention to and why?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? There are three different places specific drugs can damage your hearing:
- 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: Located 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 vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and sitting right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. Its main function is to regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to become dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
What is the threat level for each drug?
The checklist of medications that can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Ototoxic medications are pretty common and most people have several of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Over-the-counter pain medications including the following top the list:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. The hearing problems caused by these drugs are normally correctable when you stop taking them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be specific antibiotics. Some of these might be familiar:
- Streptomycin
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by a number of common compounds
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. Here are some ways tinnitus might present:
- Thumping
- Ringing
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
Specific diuretics will also cause tinnitus, here are a few of the primary offenders:
- Nicotine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
You might not realize 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 go away. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to manage tinnitus are also on the list of potential causes such as:
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
Normally, the tinnitus will clear when you quit taking the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus differ based on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Here are a few things to check out for:
- Difficulty walking
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Poor balance
Make sure you ask your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that might have been caused by an ototoxic reaction.
Also, give us a call today to schedule a hearing exam to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331