When you begin on a course of medication, it’s natural to want to be educated about any possible side effects. Can it upset your stomach? Will it cause dry mouth? Make you drowsy? There might also be a more serious potential side effect that you may not be aware of – hearing loss. Lots of different drugs are known to trigger this condition which medical professionals label as ototoxicity.
So can this issue be triggered by a lot of drugs? The answer is uncertain, but there are plenty that are recognized to trigger ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones do you need to watch out for and why?
Ototoxicity – what you should know
How is it possible for your hearing to be affected by medication? There are three different places certain drugs can damage your hearing:
- The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Too much or too little endolymph has a substantial impact on both balance and hearing.
- 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, usually beginning with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
- The vestibule of the ear: The cochlea is like a labyrinth, and situated right in the center is the vestibule of the ear. Its main function is to regulate balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can cause you to become dizzy or feel like the room is spinning.
Do different drugs have different threat levels?
The checklist of medications which can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. 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 like the following top the list:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
Aspirin, also called salicylates, is on this list as well. The hearing issues due to these drugs are generally correctable when you quit using them.
Next on the list of common ototoxic medications would be specific antibiotics. You might have heard of some of these:
- Kanamycin
- Tobramycin
- Streptomycin
Tinnitus can also be triggered by several common compounds
Hearing loss can be the result of some medications and others may trigger tinnitus. Here are a few ways tinnitus might present:
- A whooshing sound
- Ringing
- Popping
- Thumping
Certain diuretics will also trigger tinnitus, here are some of the main offenders:
- Tonic water
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
- Marijuana
You might not be aware that the cup of coffee or black tea in the morning can cause ringing in your ears. Luckily, once the diuretic has cleared your system, the ringing should go away. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to treat tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:
- Lidocaine
- Amitriptyline
- Prednisone
Once you discontinue the medication, the symptoms should go away, and your doctor will be there to help you with anything you may need to know.
Ototoxicity has specific symptoms
Depending on what specific medications you’re taking and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will vary.
Be on guard for:
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Poor balance
- Difficulty walking
- Hearing loss on one or both sides
- Tinnitus
Keep yourself informed by always consulting your physician about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. If you experience ototoxicity we recommend that you contact your doctor to talk about your symptoms, they will know what’s best.
Also, give us a call today to schedule a hearing test to establish a baseline of your hearing health.
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7985331
