Hearing Loss Can be Caused by These Prevalent Medications

Close up of colorful medications that can cause hearing loss.

It’s normal to want to understand the side effects of a medication when you begin taking it. Can it trigger digestive issues? Will it cause dehydration? Make you sleepy? You might not even be aware of some of the more impactful side effects, like 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 issue be caused by a lot of medications? The answer is unclear, but there are plenty that are recognized to cause ototoxic symptoms. So, which ones should you pay attention to and why?

Ototoxicity – what you should know

How can a medication cause problems with your ears after you take it? There are three distinct places specific drugs can damage your 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 affects the range of sound you can hear, typically beginning 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 manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity medications can cause you to get dizzy or feel as if the room is spinning.
The stria vascularis: The stria vascularis is the portion of the cochlea that generates fluid called endolymph. Both balance and hearing are impacted by too much or too little endolymph.

What is the risk level for each drug?

The checklist of medications that can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss may surprise you. Ototoxic medications are fairly common and most individuals have a few of them in their medicine cabinets right now.

Over-the-counter pain medications including the following top the list:

Ibuprofen
Naproxen

Aspirin, also known as salicylates, is on this list too. When you stop taking these medications, your hearing will typically go back to normal.

Next on the list of common ototoxic drugs would be certain antibiotics. Some of these may be familiar:

Streptomycin
Tobramycin
Kanamycin

There are also numerous other compounds that can cause tinnitus

Hearing loss can be the outcome of some drugs and others might cause tinnitus. If you hear phantom noises, that may be tinnitus and it typically shows up as:

A whooshing sound
Popping
Ringing
Thumping

Certain diuretics will also trigger tinnitus, here are some of the main offenders:

Marijuana
Tonic water
Caffeine
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. The good news is it should clear up after the chemical is out of your system. Ironically, some drugs doctors prescribe to treat tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:

Prednisone
Lidocaine
Amitriptyline

Once you stop using the medication, the symptoms should improve, and your doctor will be there to help you with whatever you may need to know.

Ototoxicity has particular symptoms

Depending on what specific medications you’re using and the health of your hearing, your particular symptoms will differ.

Here are a few things to check out for:

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

Keep yourself informed by always consulting your doctor about the possible side effects of a medication, don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. Get in touch with your doctor right away if you detect any tinnitus symptoms that may have been caused by an ototoxic reaction.

Also, call us today to schedule a hearing exam to establish a baseline of your hearing health.