What Are The Types of Medicines That Cause Tinnitus?
Yes, there are medicines that cause tinnitus, and you may be taking one of them. There are over 200 drugs that potentially bring about ear ringing, a number way higher than the number of drugs being used to treat the condition. This should not cause panic, though, as people have different reactions to different medications. And, they usually have adverse effects only when taken for a long a period of time and in large doses.
The drugs that are harmful to the ears are also known as ototoxic drugs. Besides ringing in the ears, they may also result to hearing loss and disequilibrium such as dizziness and vertigo, which are related to the workings of the cochlea or vestibular (balance) structures in the ear.
There are six main types of medication that result to ringing in the ears:
Aspirin is one, and its side effects are generally seen after a person has been taking six to nine pills a day. Usually, the ear ringing will reverse itself after you stop taking the medication.
Then there are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, examples of which include Advil, Aleve, Anaprox, Clinoril, Feldene, Indocin, Lodine, Motrin, Nalfon, Nuprin, Poradol, and Voltarin.
Antibiotics are also known culprits. They are more likely to have ototoxic effects when they are given through an IV, which usually happens during a life-threatening situation in which large doses are needed. Included are Aminoglycosides (Streptomycin, Neomycin, Kanamycin, Netilmicin), Erythromycin (E-mycin, Eryc, Ilosone), and Vancomycin (Vincocin).
Diuretics such as Bumetanide, Ethacrynic acid, and Furosemide, when taken in overly large doses for extended periods of time, can also bring about tinnitus. Chemotherapy agents can also have the same effect. Examples are Bleomycin, Cisplatin, Mechlorethamine, Methotrexate, and Vincristine.
Then there is quinine – Aralen, Atabrine (for treatment of malaria), Legatrin, and Q-Vel Muscle Relaxant (for treatment of night cramps).
If you think that it is your medication that causes the ringing in your ears, go see your doctor first before taking any further actions. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking that medication and prescribe you with another one that does not have ototoxic effects.
While there are medicines that cause tinnitus, there are also drugs used as tinnitus relief agents that may worsen the unwanted sound. Antidepressants, for instance, are used by ear ringing sufferers to control and manage stress. And, they may, although not necessarily, aggravate the condition.
