When you begin on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it upset your stomach? Will it dehydrate you? Make you sleepy? You may not even know about some of the more impactful side effects, like hearing loss. Many different medications are known to cause this condition which medical professionals label as ototoxicity.
So can this issue be triggered by a lot of drugs? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are known to cause ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones do you need to pay attention to and why?
What to know about ototoxicity
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? There are three different places certain drugs can harm your hearing:
- The cochlea: That’s the seashell-shaped part of the inner ear that receives sound and translates it into an electrical signal that the brain can understand. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, usually starting with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
- The vestibule of the ear: This is the portion of the ear that sits in the middle of the labyrinth that composes the cochlea. Its primary function is to manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity medications can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Both balance and hearing are impacted by too much or too little endolymph.
What is the threat level for each drug?
You may 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 have a headache.
At the top of the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain killers such as:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also called salicylates, is on this list as well. When you stop using these drugs, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be certain antibiotics. Some of these might be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can induce tinnitus
Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. Here are some ways tinnitus may present:
- Popping
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
Various diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Nicotine
- Tonic water
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
You might not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can trigger ringing in your ears. Fortunately, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. Ironically, some medications doctors prescribe to treat tinnitus are also on the list of potential causes such as:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
Normally, the tinnitus will clear when you stop taking the medication but always consult your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic reaction
Depending on what specific medications you’re using and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will differ.
Be on guard for:
- Difficulty walking
- Blurred vision
- Poor balance
- Vomiting
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Tinnitus
Keep yourself informed by always asking your physician about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about 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 set up 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