When you start on a course of medication, it’s normal to want to be informed about any possible side effects. Can it upset your stomach? Will it cause your mouth to dry out? Cause sleeplessness? You might not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, such as hearing loss. Many different drugs are known to cause this condition which medical professionals call ototoxicity.
Specifically how many medications are there that can lead to this issue? The answer is unclear, but there are lots that are known to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So which drugs do you personally need to know about?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How can a medication cause problems with your hearing after you swallow it? There are three different places specific drugs can harm your hearing:
- 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. Vestibulotoxicity medications can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if 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 perception of sound. When the cochlea is compromised, you will begin to lose some frequencies of sound, especially in the high-frequency range.
- The stria vascularis: Found in the cochlea, the stria vascularis makes endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Too much or too little endolymph has a significant effect on both balance and hearing.
What is the threat level for each drug?
You might be surprised by the list of medications that can cause an ototoxic reaction. Several of them you probably 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 like the following top the list:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
You can add salicylates to the list, which is aspirin. When you stop using these medications, your hearing will usually go back to normal.
Antibiotics are a close second for common ototoxic medications. You might have heard of some of these:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
Tinnitus can also be triggered by several common compounds
Some drugs may cause tinnitus and others could lead to loss of hearing. Here are some ways tinnitus might present:
- Thumping
- A whooshing sound
- Popping
- Ringing
Certain diuretics will also trigger tinnitus, here are a few of the main offenders:
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
Every single time you drink your coffee or black tea in the morning, you are subjecting your body to something that may make your ears ring. Here’s the good news, it should clear up after the chemical is out of your system. The following medications are prescribed to treat tinnitus but ironically, they are themselves diuretics:
- Prednisone
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
After you stop using the medication, the symptoms should clear up, and your doctor will be there to help you with whatever you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
The signs or symptoms of tinnitus differ based on your ear health and which medication you get.
Be on guard for:
- Blurred vision
- Vomiting
- Difficulty walking
- Poor balance
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
Keep yourself informed by always consulting your doctor about the potential side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we suggest that you contact your doctor to report your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
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
