Ototoxic medicine
Some medications could potentially cause damage to your hearing, or aggravate an already existing problem. It is important that you, the patient, take responsibility in knowing which drugs you should try to avoid. Usually any hearing problem will only be caused by exceeding the recommended dosage of the medications. Often these problems are reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. Occasionally there are times when this change in hearing can be permanent. If you are experiencing a hearing problem, or if there is a hearing disorder in your family, it is imperative that your treating physician and pharmacist be aware of this fact. If you are prescribed one of the medications found on this list, you should speak to your physician to see if another, potentially less toxic drug, could be used in its place. If the drug is over-the-counter, you should ask the pharmacist for a recommendation of a less toxic drug.
-Orin S. Kaufman, D.O
The trade names mentioned on this webpage were selected by the author randomly. The inclusion of a particular trade name and the exclusion of another should not be interpreted as prejudicial either for one nor against the other.
Drugs that can cause hearing loss
Salicylates
- Aspirin and aspirin containing products
- Salicylates and methylsalicylates (linconents) (Toxic effects appear to be closely related and are almost always reversible once medications are discontinued.)
Diuretics
- Bendroflumethazide (Corzide)
- Bumetadine (Bumex)
- Chlor-Thalidone (Tenoretic)
- Ethacrynic Acid (Edecrin)
- Furosemide (Lasix)
(These are usually ototoxic when given intravenously for acute kidney failure. Rare cases of ototoxicity have been found when these medications are taken orally in high doses by people with chronic kidney disease.)
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)
(Most NSAIDS have the potential for causing hearing loss and / or tinnitus. Because new drugs are being frequently approved for use, it is important that you check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine if the drug you were prescribed can cause a problem.)
- Diclofenac (Volaren)
- Etocolac (Ladine)
- Fenprofen (Nalfon)
- Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, etc.)
- Indomethacin (Indocin)
- Naproxen (Naprayn, Anaprox, Aleve)
- Piroxicam (Feldene) Sulindac (Climoril)
(Toxic effects are close related and are almost always reversible once medications are discontinued.)Ototoxic | Page 2–3
Antibiotics
Aminoglycosides
- Amikacin (Amakin)
- Gentamycin (Garamycin)
- Kanamycin (Kantrex)
- Neomycin (Found in many over the counter antibiotics ointments)
- Netilmicin (Netromycin)
- Streptomycin
- Tobramycin (Nebcin)
(Of particular interest is that topical ear drop medications containing gentamycin or neomycin do not appear to be ototoxic in humans unless the tympanic membrane (ear drum) is perforated. When a solution of an aminoglycoside antibiotic is used on the skin together with an aminoglycoside antibiotic used intravenously, there is a risk of an increase of ototoxic effect, especially if the solution is used on a wound that is open or new, or if the patient has underlying kidney damage. Neomycin is the drug that is most toxic to the structure involved in hearing, the cochlea, so it is recommended for topical use only. But even topical therapy has resulted in hearing loss when large areas were treated which allowed for large amounts of the drug to be absorbed into the body. Hearing loss caused by this class of antibiotics is usually permanent.)
Erythromycin
- EES
- E-mycin
- Ilosone
- Eryc
- Pediazole
- Biaxin
- Zithromax
(Usually ototoxic when given in intravenous doses of 2-4 grams per 24 hours, especially if there is underlying kidney failure.)
- Vancomycin (Vancocin)(Similar to aminoglycosides in that is may be ototoxic when used intravenously in life-threatening infections further exaggerates the problem.)
- Minocyline (Minocin , Similar to erythromycin)
- Polymixin B & Amphotericin B (Anti-fungal preparations)
- Capreomycin (Capestat, Anti-tuberculosis medications) Ototoxic | Page 3–3
Chemotherapeutic Agents
- Bleomycine (Blenoxane)
- Bromocriptine (Parlodel)
- Carboplatinum (Carboplatin)
- Cisplatin (Plationol)
- Methotrexate (Rheumatrex )
- Nitrogen Mustard (Mustargen)
- Vinblastin (Velban)
- Vincristine (Oncovin)
(The ototoxic effects can be minimized by carefully monitoring blood levels.)
Quinine
- Chloroquine Phosphate (Aralen)
- Quinacrine Hydrochloride (Atabrine)
- Quinine Sulfate (Quinam)
(The ototoxic effects are very similar to those of aspirin.)
Mucosal Protectant
Narcotic Analgesics
- Hydrocodone (Lorcet, Vicodin)
