It’s normal to look at the side effects of a medication when you begin taking it. Can you expect to feel Nauseous or to get a dry mouth? There is a more severe potential side effect that you might not realize which is hearing loss. Ototoxicity is the term medical professionals give to this condition. Broken down, ototoxic means ear poisoning.

It’s still not known how many drugs lead to this problem, but there are at least 130 ototoxic medications on record. What are some of the common ones you should look out for and why?

Some Facts About Ototoxicity

How can a pill reap havoc on your ears after you swallow it? these drugs can damage your hearing in three different places:

• The cochlea – That’s the seashell-shaped component of the inner ear that takes sound and converts it into an electrical signal the brain can understand. Damage to the cochlea affects the range of sound you can hear, typically beginning with high frequencies then expanding to include lower ones.
• The stria vascularis – Located in the cochlea, the stria vascularis produces endolymph, the fluid in the inner ear. Too much or too little endolymph has a considerable impact on both hearing and balance.
• The vestibule of the ear – This is the area that sits in the middle of the labyrinth that comprises the cochlea. It helps manage balance. Vestibulotoxicity drugs can make you dizzy or feel like the room is spinning.

Some drugs only cause tinnitus and others lead to loss of hearing. If you hear phantom noises, that might be tinnitus and it commonly shows up as:

• Thumping
• Popping
• A windy sound
• Ringing

Usually if you stop using the medication the tinnitus will stop. Unfortunately, some of these drugs can cause permanent hearing loss.

What Drugs Put You at Risk?

The list of drugs which can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss might surprise you. You probably take some of these drugs when you are in pain and you might have some of them in your medicine cabinet right now.

Over the counter pain relievers are at the top of the list of ototoxic medications:

• Naproxen
• Ibuprofen

Salicylates, better recognized as aspirin, can be added to this list. The hearing issues induced by these medications are usually reversible when you stop taking them.

Ranking a close second for well known ototoxic drugs are antibiotics. Some antibiotics are ototoxic but many aren’t. You may have heard of some of these that aren’t:

• Erythromycin
• Gentamycin
• Vancomycin

The issue clears up once you stop taking the antibiotics just like with painkillers. The standard list of other drugs include:

• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Chloroquine

Compounds That Cause Tinnitus

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

• Tonic water
• Nicotine
• Marijuana
• Caffeine

When you get up every morning and have your morning coffee you subject yourself to a substance that may cause tinnitus. The good news is it will pass once the drug leaves your system. Ironically, some drugs doctors give to treat tinnitus are also on the list of possible causes such as:

• Amitriptyline
• Lidocaine
• Prednisone

However, the dosage which will trigger tinnitus is a lot more than the doctor will generally give.

What Are the Symptoms of Ototoxicity?

The symptoms of tinnitus vary depending on the health of your ears and what medication you get. Normally, you can expect anything from slightly annoying to totally incapacitating.

Be on guard for:

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

If you have any of these symptoms after taking a medication even if it’s an over-the-counter herbal supplement, you should contact your physician.

Should you still take your medication even you notice the symptoms of ototoxicity. You should always take what your doctor tells you to. These symptoms are only temporary so keep that in mind. Keep yourself informed by always asking your doctor about the possible side effects of a medication and don’t hesitate to ask about ototoxicity. Also, get a hearing exam with a hearing care professional.