There are many probable factors that can cause tinnitus. The most notable ones among them are constantly hearing loud sounds, obstructions caused by ear wax, and senility brought about by old age. In addition to them, certain medicines can also be held responsible for tinnitus, as a result of which the affected person has to bear the noises, day after day. In 1944, when Streptomycin hit the markets, and was widely prescribed to tackle tuberculosis, this was confirmed. Not only did Streptomycin have the customary side effects usually found with antibiotics, but it also caused tribulations in the vestibule as well as the internal parts of the ear (Cochlear). This meant that, those who were treated with this drug, experienced vertigo and problems in hearing as well.
Later on, many other antibiotics too, particularly those belonging to the amino glycoside 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 amino glycoside 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.
The damage to the hair cells occurs in stages. At first, the ones in the inner rows (the outer hair cells) are affected. Next, the hair cells in the outer rows (the inner hair cells) feel the impact. In this manner, the damages spread across the hair cells. The indicators of these problems become apparent within a short period (or immediately after) of withdrawal of the medicine. At the first stage, the affected person has problem in listening sounds at high frequency (due to ototoxic nature of the drugs). This can lead to tinnitus. Over time, patients start having difficulties in sounds of lower frequencies, and recognizing voices becomes tough as well.
Medical practitioners generally like to prescribe antioxidants before recommending any type of drugs with ototoxic effects. This is because the effects caused by ototoxicity cannot generally be reversed. The antioxidants ensure that the free radicals do not get mutilated. As a result, auditory problems as well as risks of losing the internal balance of the vestibule get reduced considerably. Hence, it is indeed a wise decision to prescribe antioxidants.
Much to the convenience of the common people, six types of medicines were classified as the ones bearing ototoxic effects, by an established Doctor of Medicine. The names of these drugs came out in the September 1996 issue of the magazine, Tinnitus Today, thereby ending all doubts and speculations in this regard. The list, as it was published in the magazine, will be reproduced here for the convenience of the readers.
1. Salicylate drugs that cause tinnitus (like Aspirin or similar other medicines): Ototoxicity becomes evident if 6 to 8 pills per day are taken. The problems caused can however be rectified once these medicines are stopped.
2. 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,
3. Antibiotic drugs that cause tinnitus (like Amino glycoside group, Erythromycin group or Vancomycin group):
Amino glycosides: These drugs display ototoxic effects when they are introduced intravenously in the system, in potentially life-threatening medical situations. Streptomycin, Gantamycin, Kanamycin, Neomycin, Amikacin, Netilmycin and Tobramycin are some of such drugs in this group. Doctors need to put a close tab on the blood pressure levels of patients to avoid these problems. Ototoxic effects are not to be found in ear drops or topical medications that contain Gantamycin and/or Neomycin.
Erythromycin: When the relatively new derivatives of this group of medicines are applied intravenously (at the rate of 2 to 4 grams at intervals of one day), ototoxic effects start to become apparent. Among these drugs are Eryc, EES, E-mycin, Bixine, Llosone, Pediazol and Zithromax. While renal failures commonly occur as a major side effect, other health issues are also caused. However, if these medicines are administered orally, and in lower dosages, no ototoxic effects can be perceived. For example, taking about one gram of these drugs everyday would not bring about any ototoxicity.
Vancomycin: The Vincocin antibiotic is found to possess similar features as the amino glycoside drugs. When administered intravenously to combat potentially fatal infections, these medicines can display ototoxic effects. They are usually prescribed in conjunction with amino glycosides, thereby raising the total effects of ototoxicity.
4. Bumex, Lasix, Endecrin (Loop Diuretics) ” Fourth type of drugs that cause tinnitus. When administered intravenously for problems related to serious kidney malfunctions, or hypertension-related problems, the ototoxicity of these medicines comes to surface. However, even high dosages do not display ototoxic effects, if they are given to the patients orally. Hence, doctors generally try to avoid intravenous injections, and prescribe these drugs for oral administration to patients with chronic kidney problems.
5. Cancer treating Chemotherapy drugs that cause tinnitus (like Cisplatin, Vincristine and Nitrogen Mustard): Drugs of these types are widely used for treating cancer, and come with ototoxic properties as well. The problems created may become irreversible if these drugs are taken simultaneously along with amino glycosides or loop diuretics, since the level of ototoxicity may move beyond controllable levels. Otherwise, a regular practice of serial audiograms, along with constant monitoring of the blood pressure can solve the problems.
6. Anti-malarial drugs that cause tinnitus (like Quinine), and other medicines that are used to prevent night cramps (like Atabrine, Legatrin, Aralen, and Q-Vel Muscle relaxants): The ototoxic effects associated with quinine are somewhat similar to the ones that come with the usage of aspirin. As and when the medicines are withdrawn, the problems also make an exit. This list also notes the major indicators of ototoxicity-related problems, according to their frequency levels. These symptoms can be listed as under: (1) if patients experience in either, or both of their ears; (2) a new source of noise, complicating existing tinnitus problems; (3) due to the tinnitus infection, the ears feeling heavy or full, and (4) either starting to have problems in hearing, or experiencing added auditory problems for people who are already hard of hearing.
From our discourse above, we find that several different types of drugs can result in tinnitus. The methods of curing the problem hardly ever provide any long-lasting relief, since these methods do not eradicate the chief reasons of tinnitus, and only keep the symptoms of the ailment under check. The same is often the case with many of the home remedies and medications prepared from herbs. The only way in which tinnitus can be permanently got rid off is by identifying the causes f the disease, and removing them from the system. Indeed, this method is deemed as the correct one to deal with tinnitus.