There Are Really Two Kinds of "Ototoxic" Drugs

[JohnK]

Hi all,

It seems that when we talk about ototoxic drugs, we are saying "drugs that start/worsen tinnitus"...but it seems there are at least 2 big types within that...

One type is drugs that are physically changing/damaging the cochlea and its little hair cells (be it permanent or temporary). Examples would be Asprin, Ibuprofen, chemotherapy drugs, -mycin antibiotics etc

The other type is drugs that are changing the brain itself. Examples would be drugs messing with your GABA levels, benzos (and withdrawal from them), etc.

These would suggest different prognoses and future treatments, no?

 

[Natalie Roberts]

Hi all,

It seems that when we talk about ototoxic drugs, we are saying "drugs that start/worsen tinnitus"...but it seems there are at least 2 big types within that...

One type is drugs that are physically changing/damaging the cochlea and its little hair cells (be it permanent or temporary). Examples would be Asprin, Ibuprofen, chemotherapy drugs, -mycin antibiotics etc

The other type is drugs that are changing the brain itself. Examples would be drugs messing with your GABA levels, benzos (and withdrawal from them), etc.

These would suggest different prognoses and future treatments, no?

My question about ototoxiticy is do you generally require a larger then normal amount of the drug to cause hearing issues? For example, a normal dose of ibuprofen (when you've never had ill effects before) shouldn't cause T to worsen, correct? When I BRIEFLY researched it it said most drugs that are ototoxic are only so in larger amounts but I'm really not sure.. I am nervous about any drugs that may be given to me in delivery causing my T to worsen.. Well, I pretty much worrry about everything..

 

[erik]

My question about ototoxiticy is do you generally require a larger then normal amount of the drug to cause hearing issues? For example, a normal dose of ibuprofen (when you've never had ill effects before) shouldn't cause T to worsen, correct? When I BRIEFLY researched it it said most drugs that are ototoxic are only so in larger amounts but I'm really not sure.. I am nervous about any drugs that may be given to me in delivery causing my T to worsen.. Well, I pretty much worrry about everything..

Yes to some extent.

There are the ototoxic heavyweights-- drugs such as the quinine, chemo drugs, loop diuretics and Aminoglycoside antibiotics which are known to almost certainly contribute and damage the inner ear, and there are others such as aspirin, Ibuprofen etc, which can range widely and usually only cause damage in high max doses for extended periods of time. However, there are many contributing factors which are different for different people. Some of these drugs may have an effect on one person and not at all in another. Some people may be sensitive to dosages and others not so much and so on.

 

[JohnK]

Some people may be sensitive to dosages and others not so much and so on.

Kind of like how Cipro/Levaquin has no negative effects on one person and then literally destroys the lives of another. YMMV if there ever was one...

 

[erik]

I will addd

Kind of like how Cipro/Levaquin has no negative effects on one person and then literally destroys the lives of another. YMMV if there ever was one...

Yup exactly!

 

[Nucleo]

These would suggest different prognoses and future treatments, no?

Sure there probably might be. But I don't think anyone knows the answer though.

 

[Poyraz]

So, which case is the worst then?

 

[erniej]

There's a whole shitload of ototoxic drugs. For more info I would suggest a Google search.