Sound Advice

Are Your Medications Making Your Ears Ring?

Many people are not aware that both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can cause or exacerbate tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, humming sound in the ear or head not created by an external source). Certain medications are ototoxic, or toxic to the ear. These types of medications can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, hyperacusis (decreased sound tolerance), vertigo and imbalance. Other types of medications may have tinnitus as a possible side effect. There are over 450 medications (prescription and OTC) that can trigger tinnitus, make existing tinnitus worse or cause tinnitus. Medications of all classes are included in this list, such as antibiotics, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, anti-malarials, blood pressure medications, chemotherapeutic agents (for the treatment of cancer) and pain-killers, to name a few. Drug-induced tinnitus can be temporary or permanent. Most often tinnitus is temporary, resolving after cessation of the triggering medication. The symptoms of tinnitus may disappear within days to weeks of stopping the drug. This is true of drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen. Other drugs may result in permanent tinnitus, such as aminoglycosides and chemotherapy. If your ears start ringing after you begin taking a new drug, or an increased dose of an existing drug, you should report this immediately to your prescribing physician. In some instances, you could be switched to a different medication that is less likely to cause tinnitus or lower the dosage of the medication that you are taking, if possible. And remember, just because a drug label does not list tinnitus as a possible side effect, does not mean it will not cause tinnitus!

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