Close up of colorful medications that can cause hearing loss.

It’s normal to want to know about the side effects of a medication when you start using it. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it cause dry mouth? Make you drowsy? You might not even know about some of the more impactful side effects, such as hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the medical name 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 drugs? Well, there are numerous medications recognized to trigger an ototoxic response, but just how many is still rather unclear. So, which ones should you pay attention to and why?

What you need to know about ototoxicity

How can a pill cause problems with your ears after you swallow it? Your hearing can be damaged 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 balance and hearing are affected by too much or too little endolymph.
  • The cochlea: That’s the seashell-shaped component of the inner ear that receives sound and translates it into an electrical signal that the brain can comprehend. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, usually beginning 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 makes up the cochlea. Its primary function is to regulate balance. When a medication triggers an ototoxic response to the vestibule of the inner ear, you can experience balance problems and the sensation that the room is spinning.

Do different drugs have different threat levels?

You might be surprised by the list of medications that can cause an ototoxic reaction. Ototoxic medications are rather common and the majority of individuals 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. The hearing issues caused by these drugs are normally reversible when you stop using them.

Antibiotics come in as a close second for prevalent ototoxic drugs. You may have heard of some of these:

  • Streptomycin
  • Kanamycin
  • Tobramycin

Tinnitus can also be triggered by several common compounds

Some drugs might cause tinnitus and others could result in loss of hearing. If you hear phantom sounds, that may be tinnitus and it normally shows up as:

  • Popping
  • A whooshing sound
  • Thumping
  • Ringing

Some diuretics can also result in tinnitus, including brand names Lasix, Bumex, and Diamox but the primary offenders in this category are things like:

  • Nicotine
  • Caffeine
  • Marijuana
  • Tonic water

Every time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that may make your ears ring. Luckily, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. The following medications are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:

  • Prednisone
  • Lidocaine
  • Amitriptyline

Usually, the tinnitus will end when you stop taking the medication but always seek advice from your doctor, they will know what’s best for you.

There are very specific symptoms with an ototoxic reaction

The signs or symptoms of tinnitus differ depending on your ear health and which medication you get.

Here are some things to check out for:

  • Vomiting
  • Hearing loss on one or both sides
  • Blurred vision
  • Difficulty walking
  • Tinnitus
  • Poor balance

Keep yourself informed by always asking your physician about the potential side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend immediately contacting your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know what’s best.

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

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

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