These Everyday Medications Can Cause Ringing in The Ears

Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus, is becoming more and more common in our noisy world. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly assume it is just part of the aging process or a symptom of a number of other ailments and diseases. In reality, it may well be a result of everyday medications and substances that cause irritation to the ear canals.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is defined as a sense of noise, which might include ringing, hissing, buzzing, roaring, humming and other sounds that are not caused by external sources such as traffic or construction.

It is a pretty common condition, with 15% of the population experiencing it at some point in their lives. Tinnitus is usually subjective, which means that only the person who has it can hear it.

Tinnitus can be distressing for some people, and it can also worsen some mental health conditions. It is thought that some medications may cause or exacerbate the condition. It is important to talk to your audiologist if you develop tinnitus while taking medication. 

What is the link between medication and tinnitus?

Many medications list tinnitus as a side effect. However, while some do cause it, it is not quite as common as you would think. Why, then, is tinnitus listed as a side effect? 

Well, for starters, many medications can raise blood pressure, and high blood pressure and tinnitus are linked. Not only that, but as mentioned above, tinnitus is a common hearing condition, so it may be down to pure coincidence that it starts at the same time as taking the medication. 

Stress can also exacerbate tinnitus, and if you are prescribed medication, you may be feeling a little more stressed than usual. 

People who have tinnitus while using regularly prescribed medicines are in the minority, with less than one in every 1000 people taking the medication reporting it as a side effect. This applies to the majority of high-blood-pressure drugs, cholesterol-lowering medications, anxiety medications, and the majority of antidepressants. Even those medications that are known to cause tinnitus are only known to produce transient tinnitus, which vanishes as soon as the medication is stopped. Furthermore, when medicines do cause tinnitus, the severity of the effect is usually dose dependent. 

Which medications cause ringing in the ears?

Although there are often other reasons for tinnitus to occur at the same time as taking medications, there are some that can directly cause it.

Antibiotics: Some powerful antibiotics have ototoxic properties. This means that they are known to harm hearing. These antibiotics are called aminoglycosides and are usually limited in dosage and only used for very specific illnesses. These medications are not available as tablets, syrups, or other oral preparations and are instead administered intravenously in a hospital setting for severe, life-threatening infections. Ear damage can only occur when the amount of the substance in the bloodstream surpasses a predetermined threshold level. As a result, the amount is continuously monitored through the use of regular blood tests. 

Blood pressure medication: Blood pressure, or hypertension as it is known, is something that can cause some significant issues if not treated. A doctor may prescribe a medication known as a diuretic to bring your blood pressure down. If this is an exceptionally high dosage, it can cause ringing in the ear. 

Aspirin: Aspirin is something that many people take as a matter of routine. A typical dose – the amount that you might take to deal with a headache, for example – should not cause any hearing issues such as tinnitus. However, higher dosages can cause temporary tinnitus. The good news is that once you stop taking it or reduce the amount, the ringing in the ears usually goes away by itself. 

Other medications that may cause ringing in the ears include:

• Anti-malaria drugs
• Some anti-convulsants
• Some drugs for cancer
• Tricyclic antidepressants 

Talk to your audiologist about ringing in the ears caused by medication

There are a number of different medications that have the potential to cause tinnitus. Additionally, the interaction between some combinations of drugs can result in the development of symptoms. As a result, the best course of action is to contact your audiologist about any pharmaceutical adverse effects.

Additionally, if you begin to experience symptoms of tinnitus, you should seek medical attention. It is difficult to tell if the medication causes the problem or not. Additionally, tinnitus is strongly connected with hearing loss, and various therapies for hearing loss, such as hearing aids, can effectively alleviate the condition.

For more information about tinnitus and other hearing loss issues, call Texas Professional Hearing Center on (281) 420-8033.