Check the List of Drugs that cause Hearing Loss

Every drug has its side effects, but some drugs cause hearing loss: and each person reacts to these side effects differently. A side effect of a drug is an unwanted effect of a drug which occurs with the pleasant therapeutic effect of the drug. Hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear) and balance problems are some of the common side effects of most drugs, especially when those drugs are taken over a longer period and /or in larger doses.

The aged who are on medication are the ones who suffer from this side effect of drugs the most. It’s necessary to know the various drugs that cause hearing loss to talk to your physician when taking them, especially if you are to take them for a longer period.

The type of drug, the duration you are taking the drug and the dosage will determine the severity of hearing and tinnitus that accompanies it. Most of this hearing loss and tinnitus are temporal and stop when you stop using the drug. Taking these drugs does not mean you will suffer from hearing loss./ Drugs that cause Hearing Loss

Everyone reacts to medications differently, and the hearing loss effect is always temporal, or you may not experience any of these side effects. Talk to your doctor when you begin to experience any signs of hearing loss or tinnitus when you are on any of these medications.

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Some drugs that cause hearing loss

1. Gentamicin: Gentamicin is an antibiotic which belongs to the class aminoglycosides. Antibiotics are drugs which are used to treat bacterial infections. Gentamicin is a strong antibiotic which is used to treat serious infections such as meningitis, especially when other antibiotics fail. Babies should be screened for hearing loss when on this medication, especially intravenously. Gentamicin can also cause noise-induced hearing loss./ Drugs that cause Hearing Loss

2. Pain killers: Prolonged use of over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen, aspirin and naproxen in high doses can cause tinnitus and hearing loss. Using these non–steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy can cause hearing loss in the unborn baby.

3. Quinine, hydroxy chloroquine and Chloroquine. Hydroxychloroquine was used to treat COVID-19 for adults and children only in hospitals. Long-term usage and high doses of this drug can cause hearing loss, especially in children.
Quinine is one of the drugs that has long been used to treat malaria. Quinine used to be very effective for malaria treatment. Some patients who used quinine developed hearing loss or tinnitus a few days after using it, but the good news is that the hearing loss and tinnitus are resolved after discontinuing the treatment. The hearing loss effect is temporal.

4. Diuretics: Diuretics are drugs which are used to treat fluid retention in patients with high blood pressure, oedema, glaucoma and ascites. These drugs normally tend to cause hearing loss or tinnitus in patients, especially when it’s administered intravenously.
A common example of diuretics is furosemide. / Drugs that cause Hearing Loss

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5. Some high blood pressure and diabetic medication.

Do not reject any of these drugs when prescribed for you, rather pay attention to your sense of hearing and report to your physician if you begin to experience any signs of hearing loss or tinnitus.

Signs and symptoms of hearing loss

1. Asking people to repeat what they say several times

2. Difficulty in hearing people clearly, especially in noisy places.

3. Finding it difficult to follow a conversation./ Drugs that cause Hearing Loss

4. Watching TV or listening to music at a higher volume is needed than others

5. Always ask people to talk louder, clearly and slowly.

6. Trouble hearing sounds with high pitch.

7. Difficulty hearing from the phone

8. Hypersensitivity to sound

9. Ringing in the ear