The following lists of medications have been known to cause hearing loss or tinnitus in some people or exacerbate an existing hearing problem. Usually this problem will only be caused by exceeding the recommended dosage. Be sure to consult with your medical professional if you are unsure of your drug’s ototoxicity or if you experience any changes in your hearing. Although there are times when the drugs can cause permanent damage, some hearing problems are reversible when the drug is discontinued.
NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDS)
Most NSAIDS have the potential for causing hearing loss and/or tinnitus. Because new drugs are being frequently approved for use, it is important that you check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine if the drug you were prescribed can cause a problem.)
• dicofenac (Voltaren)
• etocolac (Lodine)
• fenprofen (Nalfon)
• ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, etc.)
• indomethacin (Indocin)
• naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve)
• piroxican (Feldene)
• sulindac (Clinoril)
DIURETICS
• bendroflumethazide (Corzide)
• bumetadine (Bumex)
• chlor-thalidone (Tenoretic)
• ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
• furosemide (Lasix)
(These are usually ototoxic when given intravenously for
acute kidney failure, acute hypertensive crisis, or acute
pulmonary edema/congestive heart failure. Rare cases of
ototoxicity have been found when these medications are
taken orally in high doses by people with chronic kidney
disease.)
QUININE
• chloroquine phosphate (Aralen)
• quinacrine hydrochloride (Atabrine)
• quinine sulfate (Quinam)
(The ototoxic effects are very similar to those of aspirin.)
NARCOTIC ANALGESICS
• hydrocodone (Lorcet, Vicodin)
MUCOSAL PROTECTANT
• misoprostol (Cytotec)
DRUGS THAT CAN CAUSE TINNITUS
ANTIBIOTICS
• aminoglycosides (see previous section)
• amphotericin B
• chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
• minocycline (Monocin)
• polymyxine B
• sulfonamides (Septra, Bactrim)
• vancomycin (Vancocin)
CARDIAC MEDICATIONS
• celiprolol
• flecainide (Tambocar)
• lidocaine
• metoprolol (Lopressor)
• procainamide (Pronestyl)
• propranolol (Inderal)
• quinidine (Quinaglute, Quiniedex)
GLUCOCORTICOSTEROIDS
• prednisolone (Prelone)
• predinisone
• ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) (Acthar)
VAPORS, SOLVENTS
• cyclohexane
• dichloromethane
• hexane (gasoline)
• lindane (Kwell)
• methyl-chloride
• methyl-n-butyl-ketone
• perchlor-ethylene
• Styrene
• tetrachlor-ethane
• toluol
• trichloroethylene
ANESTHETICS
• bupivacain
• tetracain
• lidocaine (Novacaine)
ANTIMALARIALS
• chloroquine (Aralen)
• hydroxychloroquine (Plaquinil)
NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS
• aspirin
• acematacine
• benorilate
• benoxaprofen
• carprofen
• diclofenac (Voltaren)
• diflunisal (Dolobid)
• fenoprofen (Nalfon)
• feprazon
• ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin)
• indomethacin (Indocin)
• isoxicam
• ketoprofen (Orudis)
• methyl salicylates (BenGay)
• naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve)
• D-Penicilliamin
• phenylbutazone (Butazolidine)
• piroxicam (Feldene)
• proglumetacin
• proquazon
• rofecoxib (Vioxx)
• salicylates
• sulindac (Clinoril)
• tolmetin (Tolectin)
• zomepirac
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGIC AGENTS
• amitryptiline (Elavil)
• benzodiazepine class - alprazolam (Xanax) - clorazepate (Tranxene) - chlordiazepoxide (Librium) - diazepam (Valium) - flurazepam (Dalmane) - lorazepam (Ativan) - midazolam (Versed) - oxazepam (Serax) - prozepam (Centrax) - quazepam (Doral) - temazepam (Restoril) - triazolam (Halcion)
• buptopion (Welbutrin)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• diclofensine
• doxepin (Sinequin)
• desiprimine (Norpramin)
• fluoxetin (Prozac)
• imipramine (Tofranil)
• lithium • melitracen
• molindon (Moban)
• paroxetin
• phenelzin (Nardil)
• protriptilin (Vivactil)
• trazodon (Desyrel)
• zimeldin
