Suffering from Tinnitus, Vertigo, Hearing Loss? Ototoxic Drugs might be the cause. Research Paper / Drugs List Here.

[Foggyme]

Hi All

We often hear in the forum from those who are dogged by tinnitus and dizziness...and perhaps hearing loss, despite (apparently) having frequent enough injections of vitamin B12 to effectively manage B12 deficiency.

Many common drugs can be Ototoxic, that is, damaging to the ears - in a variety of ways. And unfortunately, even when tinnitus, vertigo or potential hearing loss is listed in the drug Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), too many GPs (and consultants) appear to be unaware of this and dismiss patient concerns if this occurs (some refuse to consider it at all, with potentially devastating consequences for those impacted).

Have to say that when I started researching this, I was surprised at how many over the counter and routinely prescribed drugs may be concerned (i.e. aspirin, ibuprofen, lanzoprazole (and other antacids), amytriptline, gabapentin, pregabalin, fluoxetine, azothioprine...and the list goes on...

So...thought I'd post a research paper (there are many more) and a list of drugs that have been identified as potentially Ototoxic.

Research Paper:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

List of Ototoxic drugs (595 listed):

hearinglosshelp.com/wp-cont...

Having said that it's also worth saying that not everyone will get these side-effects - many people don't. The thing to be aware of is that the potential for side effects increases a) if the drugs have been taken long-term - especially if the dose is high and b) if tinnitus, dizziness or hearing loss is new (i.e. it starts after drug treatment has commenced).

Under these circumstances, it's certainly worth discussing with the prescribing doctor (the research paper above also advises asking for a referral to ENT). But as always, don't stop taking medications without discussing it with a doctor first (may do more harm stopping treatment without medical advice and there may be other causes for the symptoms (i.e. ear infection etc.).

As with all drugs, it's a balancing act between weighing the potential benefits against the potential side-effects 🤔.

And doubly tricky for we deficients who often have multiple symptoms to contend with.

So...just a bit of food for thought...

And if anyone does have tinnitus, there's a forum here on HU where you can get more detailed advice:

healthunlocked.com/bta

👍

[wedgewood]

Thank you again Foggyme . We are all indebted to you for your good advice .

[Soulsister]

Very interesting, in my case I woke up one morning with total hearing loss in one ear. Went to docs as advised but struggled to get him to refer me to audiologist until I asked him if I was OK to fly with whatever problem was causing deafness. This is the short version of my struggle by the way. At this point he panicked and there and then on his computer made me an appointment at the local hospital. Unfortunately he sent the request to the wrong department so that appointment was cancelled and another made for when I was away. So the next one was then made for after my return. Told at the hospital that I should have been sent to them immediately as there’s is a two to six week window for them to help so too late for me. Had MRI scan and tests but no reason could be found. It was whilst I was pushing the doctor that he telephoned me to say he needed to see me immediately as I was B12 deficient and needed loading doses ASAP and would be on injections for life. Just makes me wonder if there is a connection having seen this post. Needless to say I changed doctors. So,if,this,helps anyone else to maintain their hearing then I am pleased. Thanks for sharing Foggyme xx

[JGBH]

Dear Foggyme thanks so much for your useful imput as usual! X

[Frodo]

Thanks for this.

And well: having begun to skim the extremely comprehensive list, it seems like it would be more helpful to have a list of drugs that are NOT ototoxic !!!

Surely even if GPs don't have access to this info, ENT specialists should do? I was referred to one a few years back, my GP actually thinking I might have Meniere's, and he was totally unhelpful. I mentioned B12 Def as well and he just didn't reply.

I have long standing ear problems, episodic dizziness, tinnitus etc. Improved since B12 and taking various other measures. Recently I was told to take mini aspirin daily, so I tried it although I knew it doesn't suit me. Sure enough, increase in dizziness, ear/head pressure, tinnitus, exhaustion, and headache. I was aghast to see the triptan I've begun to take listed as well.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Notice that rampiril is mentioned in connection with dizziness and loss of balance - interesting as I was talking with a friend today who said that he had this and it wasn't picked up by his GP but by a pharmacist who gave him a medication review - so that would be another way of tackling this if someone is having problems getting through the their GP

[specialk16]

Oh wow. That is a long list. I was recently offered some of those drugs by the ENT doctor and tinnitus was already one of my symptoms. No hope really.

Thank you for the information.