When you start on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be informed about any possible side effects. Can it cause digestive issues? Will it cause dry mouth? Make you sleepy? There could also be a more severe potential side effect that you may not think of – hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical term professionals have given this condition and there are lots of drugs that are known to cause it.
So can this problem be caused by a lot of medications? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic reaction, but just how many is still rather unclear. So, which ones do you need to pay attention to and why?
What you need to know about ototoxicity
How can a pill wreak havoc on your ears after you swallow it? Your hearing can be damaged by medication in three different places:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the part of the cochlea that produces fluid known as endolymph. Both balance and hearing are impacted by too much or too little endolymph.
- 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 perception of sound. Damage to the cochlea impacts the range of sound you can hear, typically starting with high frequencies then extending 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. It helps regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity medications can cause you to become dizzy or feel like the room is spinning.
What is the threat level for each drug?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can result in an ototoxic reaction. Several of them you most likely have in your medicine cabinet even now, and chances are you take them before you go to bed or when you have a headache.
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 issues caused by these drugs are normally reversible when you stop using them.
Antibiotics are a close second for well-known ototoxic drugs. You might have heard of some of these:
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin
- Kanamycin
There are also a number of other compounds that can cause tinnitus
Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. If you hear phantom noises, that may be tinnitus and it normally shows up as:
- Popping
- A whooshing sound
- Thumping
- Ringing
Various diuretics can also lead to tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:
- Caffeine
- Marijuana
- 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. The following drugs are prescribed to manage tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Amitriptyline
- Lidocaine
Once you discontinue the medication, the symptoms should clear up, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus differ based on your hearing health and which medication you get.
Here are some things to check out for:
- Blurred vision
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Poor balance
- Difficulty walking
- Vomiting
- Tinnitus
Make sure you ask your doctor about any possible side effects the medication they prescribed might have, including ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that may have been caused by an ototoxic response.
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
