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Ototoxicity: tinnitus and hearing damage due to medication
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Read also: What are the causes of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and how can you treat it?
Ototoxic drugs
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Ototoxic drugs are ‘poisonous’ to the sensory cells in the inner ear, leading to hearing and balance problems.
- To the drugs that permanente damage include certain aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin (family history may increase sensitivity), and anticancer chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin.
- Drugs known to temporary may cause harm are salicylate analgesics (aspirin, used for pain relief and to treat heart conditions), quinine (used to treat malaria) and running diuretics (used to treat certain heart and kidney conditions).
Read also: How do you know that you have hearing damage?
Prevent tinnitus and hearing damageWhether you get ear damage and to what extent depends on the type of medicine, the dose and how long it is in your body. The risk of ototoxicity increases anyway if you use a combination of ototoxic drugs. |
What Are the Symptoms of Ototoxicity?
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How is hearing damage caused by medication treated?
In principle, if a doctor prescribes you ototoxic drugs, he should study your hearing and vestibular system before and during treatment to see if the medication affects your hearing and to what extent. In case of significant damage, it is important to stop the medication that causes ototoxicity as soon as possible. In most cases, hearing will recover.
Is that not possible for medical reasons? Then discuss with your doctor whether the medication or dose can be adjusted. If necessary, you can go to an audiologist for additional treatments and follow-up.
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