Drugs that Cause Tinnitus

Mar 23

There are many potential causes of Tinnitus, from loud noises to neck problems. Whilst nerve damage caused by excessive exposure to loud noises is often the leading cause of the condition, sometimes it could also be the medication that you are taking.

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Many people simply don’t realise that there are drugs that cause Tinnitus. In fact, you could be taking a drug right now that could lead to the development of the condition. So just what drugs can cause Tinnitus?

Drugs That Cause Tinnitus

There are some drugs that have an effect on the cochlear and that is what causes the Tinnitus to develop. There are many different medications that can present a problem and the main ones typically include:

•    Aspirin and Salicylates
•    Mycin Antibiotics
•    Lasix
•    Chemotherapy
•    NSAIDS

All of the above can cause, or make Tinnitus even worse. The reason they do is because they are toxic to the inner ear. Any damage or imbalance within the inner ear can cause Tinnitus, as well as a loss of balance and migraines.

The effects of drugs on the cochlea were first discovered in 1944 when Streptomycin was used to treat Tuberculosis. Whilst it helped to treat the condition, a large number of people developed irreversible cochlea damage.

Whilst all of the drugs mentioned above can lead to Tinnitus, they all work in a different way. If you take Aminoglycosides then they can increase the activity of glutamate receptors within the cochlea. These promote the degeneration of hair cells. What follows then is free radical damage which destroys the hair cells.

Aspirin products can also cause Tinnitus but the effects can be temporary. It usually occurs if you take 6-8 pills per day. The same applies to NSAIDS too; you need to take 6-8 pills per day for a set time period before the effects will fully be felt.

The Role of Antioxidants

If you find that you have to rely on medication that can lead to Tinnitus then there are still things that you can do to prevent the condition. One of those things is to take antioxidants. These are well known to combat free radicals.

They are also good at improving Tinnitus which is caused by poor blood flow to the ears. Antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E can help to unblock the arteries and keep blood flowing smoothly and continuously.

Overall there are many drugs that can cause Tinnitus, but as long as you increase your level of antioxidants within the body you should limit the risk. The problems also mainly occur when you are taking the medication for long periods of time in high dosages. If you are worried about the effect that your medication might be having on your health then you should always talk to your doctor.