When you start on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be educated about any potential side effects. Can it trigger digestive problems? Will it cause dry mouth? Cause insomnia? There could also be a more severe possible side effect that you may not think of – hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical term professionals have given this condition and there are many drugs that are known to cause it.
So can this problem be triggered by a lot of medications? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic response, but exactly how many is still rather unclear. So, which ones should you pay attention to and why?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a pill wreak havoc on your ears after you swallow it? Your hearing can be harmed by medication in three distinct places:
- The stria vascularis: Situated in the cochlea, the stria vascularis produces endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Both hearing and balance are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
- 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 manage balance. When a medication produces an ototoxic reaction to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the feeling that the room is spinning.
- The cochlea: The cochlea is part of the inner ear, shaped like a seashell, that transforms sound waves into electrical signals which your brain translates into the sense of sound. When the cochlea is compromised, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, particularly in the high-frequency range.
Do different drugs have different risk levels?
The checklist of drugs that can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss might surprise you. Ototoxic medications are rather common and the majority of people have a few of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain killers such as:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, better known as aspirin. When you stop taking these medications, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be certain antibiotics. Some of these might be familiar:
- Kanamycin
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
There are also several other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. Here are a few ways tinnitus may present:
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Ringing
- Thumping
Specific diuretics will also trigger tinnitus, here are a few of the main offenders:
- Marijuana
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
- Nicotine
You may not realize that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can trigger 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 possible causes such as:
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
Normally, the tinnitus will clear when you stop using the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and your hearing health, your particular symptoms will vary.
Be on guard for:
- Blurred vision
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
- Difficulty walking
- Tinnitus
- Vomiting
Be sure you ask your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including 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, schedule a hearing examination with us, a baseline hearing test is a proactive step that can help you maintain good hearing health throughout your life.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
