It’s normal to want to understand the side effects of a medication when you begin using it. Can it upset your stomach? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Cause sleeplessness? You may not even know about some of the more impactful side effects, including hearing loss. Many different medications are known to cause this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Specifically how many drugs are there that can lead to this problem? Well, there are a number of medications known to cause an ototoxic reaction, but exactly how many is still somewhat uncertain. So which drugs do you personally need to be aware of?
What to know about ototoxicity
How can a pill wreak havoc on your ears after you swallow it? There are three distinct places specific drugs can harm your hearing:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that produces fluid called endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a significant impact on both balance and hearing.
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and sitting right in the middle is the vestibule of the ear. Its principal function is to regulate balance. When a medication causes an ototoxic reaction to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the sensation that 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.
Do different drugs have different threat levels?
You might be surprised by the list of drugs that can result in an ototoxic response. Ototoxic medications are rather common and most individuals have a few of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Over-the-counter pain medication including the following top the list:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list as well. The hearing problems caused by these drugs are typically reversible when you stop taking them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be specific antibiotics. Some of these may be familiar:
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
There are also numerous other compounds that can induce tinnitus
Some medications may cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. If you hear phantom sounds, that may be tinnitus and it usually shows up as:
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Ringing
- Thumping
Various diuretics can also result in tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Tonic water
Every single time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are exposing your body to something that could make your ears ring. Here’s the good news, it should clear up after the chemical is out of your system. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to treat tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
After you stop using the medication, the symptoms should go away, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything 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.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
Be certain that you consult your doctor about any side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend immediately contacting your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know the best course of action.
Also, schedule a hearing examination with us, a baseline hearing test is a proactive measure that can help you preserve good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
