Drugs that can damage your hearing

Drugs that are damaging to the ear are called ototoxic drugs. These can cause hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems.

Some ototoxic drugs can cause permanent deafness, but such drugs usually treat life-threatening diseases and are only prescribed where absolutely necessary. Others have temporary effects on the ear which are reversed when the drug is stopped and some are only damaging when taken in larger doses.

Where ototoxic drugs are needed and where possible, patients should be checked to see if they could be at particular risk from ototoxic drugs and monitored carefully while taking them.

Ototoxic drugs include...

Aminoglycoside antibiotics

These are a group of antibiotics generally given in the treatment of life-threatening diseases. The use of these antibiotics is falling as other safer antibiotics are developed.

Sometimes ear drops containing aminoglycoside antibiotics are prescribed for the treatment of middle ear infections. Most experts advise that these should be prescribed for limited periods only.

Cytotoxic drugs

Used in the treatment of cancer. Some of these drugs are ototoxic. One such drug Cisplatin causes a permanent hearing loss related to the dose.

Salicylates

Such as aspirin. Aspirin can cause hearing loss, tinnitus and sometimes vertigo if taken in larger doses, however the effects are reversible. It is generally prescribed in small doses, for example in the prevention of heart attacks and strokes.

Anti-malarials

Such as quinine. Quinine may be prescribed in small doses for night cramps but larger doses for the treatment of malaria. The effects of this on the ear can also be temporary.

Loop diuretics

Such as furosemide. These may cause a temporary or permanent hearing loss.