Certain Medications Can Cause Tinnitus

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a condition in the ear in which sounds can be heard inside the ear but no external noises are present. It is not a disease but a symptom that may occur as a result of various disorders and conditions.

Tinnitus can occur in variety of different sound, depending on the cause of the symptom. The most common types of sounds include ringing, humming, buzzing, whooshing, clicking, hissing, and whistling. The sound can be heard either in one ear or both ears of the sufferer.

The frequency of the sound can also vary. Some people hear it almost constantly while others have only occasional symptoms. Also, the intensity of the condition is always individual. At its worst, the noise can be so loud that it significantly affect for the quality of the sufferer's life. However, in most cases the symptoms are only mild or moderate.

Some common tinnitus causes include ear infections, foreign objects in the ear, allergies within the nasal passages that affect fluid drain, aging, and wax buildup. All of these different conditions could distort the way sounds are heard.

Headphones that do not have cushioning on them and are inserted directly into the ears can also cause a temporary case of tinnitus if the volume is set too high. A person could very easily hear strange sounds long after the headphones are removed from the temporary damages done to the ears. This form of tinnitus will most likely subside within days after removal of the headset.

Tinnitus has also been reported to occur as a side effect of several different medications. These medicines are referred to as "Ototoxic" medications because of their toxicity to the vestibular structures of the ears. Ototoxic medications have a high potential of causing tinnitus as well as other symptoms such as dizziness and vertigo. Such medications are:

Aspirin: Even though aspirin can cause tinnitus, you need to take rather big dosages before tinnitus may occur. Taking about eight pills a day can cause the condition.

NSAIDS: Advil, Aleve, Motrin, and Nuprin are in a class of drugs known as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. These medications have been reported to cause tinnitus after a consumption of 6-8 pills per day.

Antiobiotics: Many antibiotics can cause tinnitus as well. Some of them include Amindoglycosides, Vancomycin, and Erythromycin. Amindoglycosides and Erythromycin cause tinnitus especially when using intravenously. Vancomycin can cause tinnitus when using together with Aminoglycosides.

Diuretics: Some medications that are given to treat kidney failure and high blood pressure can cause tinnitus. These medications include Bumex and Lasix.

Antidepressants: Some antidepressants such as Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, and Lvox may cause tinnitus. An older antidepressant that goes by the name of Remerol has not been reported to cause tinnitus.

Muscle Relaxers: Some muscle relaxers are also known to cause temporal tinnitus. However, the symptoms usually disappear rather soon after the medication is stopped.

Drugs Used in Chemotherapy: There are chemotherapy medicines that can also cause tinnitus. The most common ones include Nitrogen Mustard, Cisplatin, and Vincristine.

With medications tinnitus usually subsides after time without exposure to the ototoxic ingredient.