Medications Linked to Hearing Loss

While there are risk factors more commonly linked to hearing loss, such as aging and excessive exposure to noise, medication can play a role, as well. In fact, there are over 600 medications that have been linked to ear and hearing health issues, including hearing loss and tinnitus. In some cases, changing medications can stop a person experiencing hearing loss, but there are drugs that can do permanent damage to your hearing, as well. Here, we’re going to look at some of the medications most commonly linked to hearing loss.

Some Over-the-Counter (OTC) Painkillers

Although you can get painkillers like aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) over the counter, this does not mean they don’t have any potential side effects. OTC painkillers have been linked to increased risks of hearing loss, especially if they’re used more than twice a week. It’s proposed by some researchers that this might be due to the way these painkillers affect blood flow, reducing the inner ear’s supply. Low-dose use of aspirin has not been linked to hearing loss.

Some Antibiotics

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are a type of antibiotic that is often given intravenously in hospitals but is also given in pill form, which has been very closely linked to hearing loss. In particular, it is thought that they can damage the sensory cells inside the ear, which play a key role in sensing both sound and balance changes. This is true even for recommended doses, although sometimes these particular antibiotics can play a life-saving role in fighting severe infections. Blood testing can make sure that levels of the drug in the blood don’t get too high, but it’s recommended anyone taking these antibiotics also get regular appointments with the audiologist.

Blood Pressure Medication

Loop diuretics are often used to treat high blood pressure, as well as fluid retention linked to heart, liver, or kidney failure. These drugs, including Lasix (furosemide), Bumex (bumetanide) and Demadex (torsemide) can affect the composition of fluids in the ear, which can lead to temporary hearing loss. This usually clears up when you stop using the drug, but can cause permanent damage if a large dose is given at the hospital. If this is found to be the cause of hearing loss, your audiologist might recommend asking your doctor for a different choice of diuretic.

What Should You Do if You Think Your Medicine is Causing Hearing Loss?

There are several other medications that are linked to hearing loss, including certain chemotherapy drugs, hormone therapy drugs, malaria-treatment drugs and more.

If you think that you’re experiencing hearing loss in relation to medication, you shouldn’t stop taking it. Reach out to your doctor and make an appointment with an audiologist so that they can take a closer look at your ear and find out if there is any hearing loss or contributing factors. You should never stop or alter your medication use without talking to your primary care physician.