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Articles of Interest

Drugs known to Cause Hearing Loss

Medications that can cause hearing loss/deafness include:

  • Drugs for pain relief, such as Hydracodone or Vicodin, have been associated with permanent hearing loss, especially when taken in high doses over a long period of time.
  • Strong antibiotics such as Streptomycin and Gentamycin are used to treat bacterial infections; however, they can cause hearing loss (or deafness). These types of aminoglycoside drugs should be strictly monitored by a physician, and a hearing test should be performed before and after these drugs are administered.
  • Drugs used in chemotherapy, called cytotoxic drugs, destroy cells or prevent their growth to treat cancer. Chemotherapy patients who experience tinnitus or difficulty hearing should let their physician know immediately.
  • “Water pills” or loop diuretics are used to increase urine output for patients with certain heart problems. They can be ototoxic when administered in large doses (usually intravenously).
  • Aspirin and other salicylates and antiinflammatories such as ibuprofen can cause temporary hearing loss when taken in high doses and are known to cause tinnitus and ringing ears.