It’s no secret that most medications can have certain side effects. In fact, many medications can cause damage to the structures within your ear as a potential side effect. These medications are known as ototoxic drugs. Let’s look at ototoxicity and ototoxic drugs in more detail.
What Does Ototoxic Mean?
The word itself is rather literal: “oto” means ear, and “toxic” means poison. The ototoxic chemicals in these medications accumulate and damage the hair cells in the ear, which transmit electrical auditory information to the brain.
How Much Damage Can Ototoxic Drugs Cause?
Depending on the dosage and the regularity with which the medication is taken, the effects may range from temporary symptoms to permanent damage. If damage has occurred, you’ll notice effects such as:
- Difficulty hearing high-pitched noises
- Tinnitus
- Mild hearing loss
- Dizziness and loss of balance
What Drugs Are Ototoxic?
There are more than 130 drugs on the market today that are known to be ototoxic. They include both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Here are some common ones:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin
- Certain antibiotics
- Loop diuretics
- Blood pressure-controlling medications
- Certain cancer medications
- Certain allergy medications
- Certain anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants
What Should I Do If I’m Prescribed an Ototoxic Drug?
If your health care team prescribes you an ototoxic drug to manage another serious health condition, you should take it. We’re not giving you this information to discourage you from taking essential medications. Your health care team takes all possible side effects into account when they make a prescription.
If you have been taking an ototoxic medication and start to notice symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus, then we recommend you do two things:
- Get your hearing tested with an audiologist and begin managing hearing loss or tinnitus
- Talk with your doctor about the side effects you’re experiencing
To make an appointment for a tinnitus or hearing evaluation, call us at Aspen Audiology. We’d also be happy to answer any questions you have about taking care of your hearing health while managing other health conditions.