Drugs That Cause Tinnitus: The Full List
Mike Walden
June 26, 2009
The chief causes of tinnitus are often identified to be excessive earwax deposits, continuous sounds (at high decibels) near the ear or old-age related factors. However, certain medicines can also contribute to the problem, which results in the affected person having to hear distressing noises, on a continuous basis as well. A case in this point is Streptomycin, a drug that was discovered in 1944, and was widely used for dealing with tuberculosis. While antibiotics, in any case, come with several side effects, consumption of Streptomycin was also found to result in damaging tribulations in the vestibule and in the inner ear (Cochlear). Such effects were found to be irreversible as well. As a result, many suffered from auditory diseases as well as vertigo problems.
Later on, many other antibiotics too, particularly those belonging to the aminoglycoside family, were found to exhibit identical side effects. These effects were collectively known as Ototoxicity. Many commonly used household medicines also showed such adverse side effects. These medications included quinine, loop diuretics, chemotherapy treatments (particularly those of the platinum-based variety), and even the medicines that were used for curing cases of common fever (the traditional salicylates). The cochleo-vestibulat system is, in most cases, adversely affected by many of the above medicines, since they are generally highly toxic. Both the balance system (vestibule) of the ear as well as the cochlea can be damaged by the toxicity of these Ototoxicity-generating drugs. Tinnitus problems can result from them and the affected person can lose his/her powers of hearing, and the balance of equilibrium can also be disturbed. Vertigo problems and other related health hazards can also make an appearance.
Drugs that are by nature ototoxic, are not uniform in their way of working, and have differing modus operandi. Those medicines that belong to the aminoglycoside group apparently activate the receptors of the glutamate. This in turn, quickens the pace at which the hair cells degenerate. The cochlear neurons are affected adversely by these medicines as well. As an automatic consequence, the free radicals also get damaged, leading to increase in the extent of damage that is caused to the hair cells as well as the cochlear neurons as well.
It should be noted that the outer cells of hair that are located in the inner rows are the ones that are primarily affected by these ill-effects. The damage then spreads to the inner hair cells placed in the outer rows too. As soon as treatments are stopped (or, soon after that), these effects start to make their appearance. Medicines with ototoxic effects first affect the human ears at high levels of frequency, as has been found out by experts. This in turn, results in tinnitus. Recognizing voices and other sounds become tougher, as the effects move to gradually lower frequencies.
The chances of curing a patient suffering from ototoxic effects are rather low. Hence, before prescribing such ototoxic drugs, most medical practitioners prefer giving them some antioxidants. When vestibules get damaged and/or patients begin to lose their ability to hear, the antioxidants ensure that, the free radicals remain undisturbed and do not get lost. Indeed, it makes practical sense to take such medical precautions in advance.
A list of six types of commonly prescribed drugs that were found to display ototoxic features was published in the magazine Tinnitus Today (September 1996 today). Prepared by a well-known Doctor of Medicine, this list put an end to all doubts regarding the names and characteristics of drugs that probably had ototoxicity. In order to avoid any erroneous interpretation of such drugs, or distortion of the facts as published in the magazine, that list itself has been provided below, for the purpose of easy reference:
i) Drugs that cause tinnitus: Salicylates, Aspirin and other drugs of similar nature
If individuals consume around 6 to 8 pills everyday, toxicity is likely to occur. Fortunately, these effects can be easily reversed as soon as the consumption is stopped,
ii) Drugs that prevent inflammation, from the Non-Steroidal Group (NSAIDS) are also among the type of drugs that cause tinnitus
These medicines include Advil, Lodine, Indocine, Poradol, Anaprox, Clinoril, Aleve, Motrin, Nuprine, Feldene, Naprosyn and Nalfon, among others. Patients can see apparent toxic symptoms when they take in 6 to 8 pills of these medicines per day. However, the effects of these drugs go away, as one discontinues their use,
iii) Aminoglycosides, Erythromycin, Vancomycin and other related antibiotics
1) Aminoglycoside drugs These medicines include Streptomycin, Neomycin, Tobramycin, Gantamycin, Netilmycin, Kanamycin and Amikacin. These medicines, with considerable ototoxicity, are popularly used as life-saving drugs, and introduced intravenously into the patients´ body. However, eardrops or topical formulations that contain Neomycin and/or Gantamycin do not possess ototoxic effects. Problems arising from ototoxicity can also be prevented by keeping a close eye on the blood pressure levels when these drugs are in use,
2) Erythromycin A new group of medicines has been derived from Erythromycin. Such new drugs include Biaxine, Zithromax, Eryc, E-mycin, Llosone, Pediasol and EES. If these drugs are consumed at dosages of 2-4 grams per day (via intravenous admission), ototoxicity is likely to happen. However, if patients do not take more than 1 gram of these medicines, the threat of ototoxicity does not exist. The problems caused can be varied in nature, and renal disorders common among such problems. When low doses of these newly derived medicines from are taken orally, no records are found of any notable ototoxic effects,
3) Vancomycin The Vincocin antibiotic is found to possess similar features as the aminoglycoside drugs. When administered intravenously to combat potentially fatal infections, these medicines can display ototoxic effects. They are usually prescribed in conjunction with aminoglycosides, thereby raising the total effects of ototoxicity.
iv) Drugs that cause tinnitus include Loop diuretics like Endecrin, Lasix and Bumex
Ototoxic effects are generally associated with medicines that are commonly prescribed to tackle failure of the kidney(s) or acute levels of tension. These effects are pronounced when the drugs are administered in an intravenous method. However, even high doses of the drug are not likely to show any ototoxicity, if they are orally provided. Hence, oral doses of these medicines are generally provided to people with chronic problems with their kidneys. Intravenous applications are usually avoided,
v) Medications for Chemotherapy: Cisplatin, Vincristine, Nitrogen Mustard
When used for treating cases of cancer, these medicines display ototoxic properties. However, if serial audiograms are carried out at regular intervals, and the level of blood pressure is closely studied, such harmful effects can be considerably reduced. However, the extent of ototoxic levels can cross manageable levels, if patients are already using other medicines with ototoxicity, like loop diuretics and/or aminoglycosides,
vi) Medicines used to treat malaria (Quinine) that can also handle night cramp problems (Muscle relaxant drugs) These drugs include Aralen, Legatrin, Q-Vel Muscle relaxant and Atabrine. Just like aspirin, quinine also displays ototoxic properties. However, as patients stop taking these drugs, the ototoxic effects disappear as well.
The common symptoms of tinnitus (at varying degrees of frequency of the disease) are also covered by the above list. These tinnitus symptoms include:
o One or both of the ears being affected by tinnitus,
o The already present tinnitus problems increasing in intensity, due to a new type of noise,
o A feeling of pressure or fullness on the ears (in addition to the ear infections), and
o Loss of auditory powers in an otherwise healthy ear. Any existing cases of deficiency of hearing abilities can also go up in intensity.
Hence, there are a number of drugs that can cause tinnitus. All conventional methods of treatment fail to find a permanent solution to these problems, since they tend to treat only the symptoms of the disease. The basic causes that are behind the disease are somewhat ignored by these medications. Nor can health supplementary drugs or homemade remedial measures be consistently relied upon. If tinnitus is to be truly cured, one simply has to locate the underlying causes of the problem, and eliminate these factors completely.
This article is based on the book "Tinnitus Miracle A Unique Three Step Holistic System for Quieting the Noise in Your Head" by Thomas Colman. Thomas is a former chronic tinnitus sufferer who has written dozens of holistic health and tinnitus related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.
To Learn More About Thomas Colmanīs Unique 3-Step Holistic Tinnitus Cure System Visit: Tinnitus Miracle.
For further information visit: Drugs that Cause Tinnitus
Later on, many other antibiotics too, particularly those belonging to the aminoglycoside family, were found to exhibit identical side effects. These effects were collectively known as Ototoxicity. Many commonly used household medicines also showed such adverse side effects. These medications included quinine, loop diuretics, chemotherapy treatments (particularly those of the platinum-based variety), and even the medicines that were used for curing cases of common fever (the traditional salicylates). The cochleo-vestibulat system is, in most cases, adversely affected by many of the above medicines, since they are generally highly toxic. Both the balance system (vestibule) of the ear as well as the cochlea can be damaged by the toxicity of these Ototoxicity-generating drugs. Tinnitus problems can result from them and the affected person can lose his/her powers of hearing, and the balance of equilibrium can also be disturbed. Vertigo problems and other related health hazards can also make an appearance.
Drugs that are by nature ototoxic, are not uniform in their way of working, and have differing modus operandi. Those medicines that belong to the aminoglycoside group apparently activate the receptors of the glutamate. This in turn, quickens the pace at which the hair cells degenerate. The cochlear neurons are affected adversely by these medicines as well. As an automatic consequence, the free radicals also get damaged, leading to increase in the extent of damage that is caused to the hair cells as well as the cochlear neurons as well.
It should be noted that the outer cells of hair that are located in the inner rows are the ones that are primarily affected by these ill-effects. The damage then spreads to the inner hair cells placed in the outer rows too. As soon as treatments are stopped (or, soon after that), these effects start to make their appearance. Medicines with ototoxic effects first affect the human ears at high levels of frequency, as has been found out by experts. This in turn, results in tinnitus. Recognizing voices and other sounds become tougher, as the effects move to gradually lower frequencies.
The chances of curing a patient suffering from ototoxic effects are rather low. Hence, before prescribing such ototoxic drugs, most medical practitioners prefer giving them some antioxidants. When vestibules get damaged and/or patients begin to lose their ability to hear, the antioxidants ensure that, the free radicals remain undisturbed and do not get lost. Indeed, it makes practical sense to take such medical precautions in advance.
A list of six types of commonly prescribed drugs that were found to display ototoxic features was published in the magazine Tinnitus Today (September 1996 today). Prepared by a well-known Doctor of Medicine, this list put an end to all doubts regarding the names and characteristics of drugs that probably had ototoxicity. In order to avoid any erroneous interpretation of such drugs, or distortion of the facts as published in the magazine, that list itself has been provided below, for the purpose of easy reference:
i) Drugs that cause tinnitus: Salicylates, Aspirin and other drugs of similar nature
If individuals consume around 6 to 8 pills everyday, toxicity is likely to occur. Fortunately, these effects can be easily reversed as soon as the consumption is stopped,
ii) Drugs that prevent inflammation, from the Non-Steroidal Group (NSAIDS) are also among the type of drugs that cause tinnitus
These medicines include Advil, Lodine, Indocine, Poradol, Anaprox, Clinoril, Aleve, Motrin, Nuprine, Feldene, Naprosyn and Nalfon, among others. Patients can see apparent toxic symptoms when they take in 6 to 8 pills of these medicines per day. However, the effects of these drugs go away, as one discontinues their use,
iii) Aminoglycosides, Erythromycin, Vancomycin and other related antibiotics
1) Aminoglycoside drugs These medicines include Streptomycin, Neomycin, Tobramycin, Gantamycin, Netilmycin, Kanamycin and Amikacin. These medicines, with considerable ototoxicity, are popularly used as life-saving drugs, and introduced intravenously into the patients´ body. However, eardrops or topical formulations that contain Neomycin and/or Gantamycin do not possess ototoxic effects. Problems arising from ototoxicity can also be prevented by keeping a close eye on the blood pressure levels when these drugs are in use,
2) Erythromycin A new group of medicines has been derived from Erythromycin. Such new drugs include Biaxine, Zithromax, Eryc, E-mycin, Llosone, Pediasol and EES. If these drugs are consumed at dosages of 2-4 grams per day (via intravenous admission), ototoxicity is likely to happen. However, if patients do not take more than 1 gram of these medicines, the threat of ototoxicity does not exist. The problems caused can be varied in nature, and renal disorders common among such problems. When low doses of these newly derived medicines from are taken orally, no records are found of any notable ototoxic effects,
3) Vancomycin The Vincocin antibiotic is found to possess similar features as the aminoglycoside drugs. When administered intravenously to combat potentially fatal infections, these medicines can display ototoxic effects. They are usually prescribed in conjunction with aminoglycosides, thereby raising the total effects of ototoxicity.
iv) Drugs that cause tinnitus include Loop diuretics like Endecrin, Lasix and Bumex
Ototoxic effects are generally associated with medicines that are commonly prescribed to tackle failure of the kidney(s) or acute levels of tension. These effects are pronounced when the drugs are administered in an intravenous method. However, even high doses of the drug are not likely to show any ototoxicity, if they are orally provided. Hence, oral doses of these medicines are generally provided to people with chronic problems with their kidneys. Intravenous applications are usually avoided,
v) Medications for Chemotherapy: Cisplatin, Vincristine, Nitrogen Mustard
When used for treating cases of cancer, these medicines display ototoxic properties. However, if serial audiograms are carried out at regular intervals, and the level of blood pressure is closely studied, such harmful effects can be considerably reduced. However, the extent of ototoxic levels can cross manageable levels, if patients are already using other medicines with ototoxicity, like loop diuretics and/or aminoglycosides,
vi) Medicines used to treat malaria (Quinine) that can also handle night cramp problems (Muscle relaxant drugs) These drugs include Aralen, Legatrin, Q-Vel Muscle relaxant and Atabrine. Just like aspirin, quinine also displays ototoxic properties. However, as patients stop taking these drugs, the ototoxic effects disappear as well.
The common symptoms of tinnitus (at varying degrees of frequency of the disease) are also covered by the above list. These tinnitus symptoms include:
o One or both of the ears being affected by tinnitus,
o The already present tinnitus problems increasing in intensity, due to a new type of noise,
o A feeling of pressure or fullness on the ears (in addition to the ear infections), and
o Loss of auditory powers in an otherwise healthy ear. Any existing cases of deficiency of hearing abilities can also go up in intensity.
Hence, there are a number of drugs that can cause tinnitus. All conventional methods of treatment fail to find a permanent solution to these problems, since they tend to treat only the symptoms of the disease. The basic causes that are behind the disease are somewhat ignored by these medications. Nor can health supplementary drugs or homemade remedial measures be consistently relied upon. If tinnitus is to be truly cured, one simply has to locate the underlying causes of the problem, and eliminate these factors completely.
This article is based on the book "Tinnitus Miracle A Unique Three Step Holistic System for Quieting the Noise in Your Head" by Thomas Colman. Thomas is a former chronic tinnitus sufferer who has written dozens of holistic health and tinnitus related articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.
To Learn More About Thomas Colmanīs Unique 3-Step Holistic Tinnitus Cure System Visit: Tinnitus Miracle.
For further information visit: Drugs that Cause Tinnitus
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