It’s natural to want to know about the side effects of a medication when you start taking it. Can it give you a stomach ache? Will it cause dry mouth? Make you drowsy? There could also be a more severe potential side effect that you may not think of – hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical name professionals have given this condition and there are lots of drugs that are known to cause it.
Exactly how many drugs are there that can lead to this issue? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic reaction, but exactly how many is still somewhat uncertain. So, which ones should you pay attention to and why?
What to know about ototoxicity
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: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Both balance and hearing 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 regulate balance. When a medication produces an ototoxic response 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 converts sound waves into electrical signals which your brain translates into the sense of sound. When the cochlea is damaged, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
What is the threat level for each drug?
The checklist of medications that can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Ototoxic medications are pretty common and most people have a few of them in their medicine cabinets right now.
Topping the list of ototoxic medications are over-the-counter pain relievers including:
- Naproxen
- Ibuprofen
Aspirin, also called salicylates, is on this list as well. The hearing issues due to these drugs are normally correctable when you quit taking them.
Antibiotics come in as a close second for prevalent ototoxic medications. Some of these may be familiar:
- Streptomycin
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
Tinnitus can also be induced by several common compounds
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. Here are a few ways tinnitus might present:
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Ringing
- Thumping
Some diuretics can also cause tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the leading offenders in this category are things like:
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Tonic water
You might not be aware that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can trigger ringing in your ears. Here’s the good news, it should improve after the chemical is out of your system. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to manage tinnitus are also on the list of potential causes such as:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Typically, the tinnitus will end when you quit taking the medication but always talk to your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.
There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic response
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will differ.
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
- Tinnitus
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty walking
- Vomiting
Be certain that you ask your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed may have, including ototoxicity. Contact your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that might have been caused by an ototoxic response.
Also, give us a call today to set up a hearing exam to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331