It is a well known fact that the use of certain medicines can cause side effects such as dizziness or nausea, however a lesser known but serious risk is hearing loss, which in some cases can be permanent.
According to experts, many commonly used medicines are ototoxic, meaning they can damage the inner ear, which may affect hearing or balance.
Ototoxicity refers to damage caused to the cochlea due to a drug or chemical, which plays a vital role in hearing ability.
Common symptoms of ototoxicity include ringing or noise in the ears tinnitus, hearing loss, especially difficulty in hearing high pitched sounds, dizziness, or balance problems.
Experts say that more than 200 medicines have shown ototoxic effects, however the following five medicines or drug categories are the most common.
Antibiotics:
Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as streptomycin, tobramycin, and gentamicin are commonly prescribed for severe infections such as sepsis or tuberculosis TB. In such conditions these medicines are essential to save lives, however prolonged use or high doses can damage hearing.
Heart medicines:
Medicines used for heart failure or high blood pressure such as furosemide and bumetanide can cause temporary hearing loss if given in high doses. These drugs affect the electrolyte balance in the inner ear.
Chemotherapy:
Platinum based chemotherapy drugs are considered highly ototoxic, especially cisplatin, which is used in the treatment of breast, ovarian, head, and neck cancers, and can cause permanent hearing damage.
According to research, approximately 60 percent of patients using cisplatin experience some degree of hearing impairment.
Pain relieving medicines:
Common painkillers such as aspirin and NSAIDs including ibuprofen and naproxen, if used in high doses, can cause ringing in the ears and hearing loss.
Medicines for malaria treatment:
Medicines such as chloroquine and quinine, used for the treatment of malaria or leg cramps, can cause temporary hearing loss and tinnitus. In most cases, these effects disappear after stopping the medication.
Health experts advise that no medicine should be used in high doses or for long periods without a doctor’s advice. If symptoms such as ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or dizziness occur during medication use, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
