Can medications cause hearing loss?

Some medicines can affect the inner ear or hearing nerve, which may lead to hearing changes, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or balance problems. This effect is known as ototoxicity. It is not common with everyday medicines at usual doses, but it is a recognised risk with certain medicine types, particularly at higher doses or over longer periods. Which specific medicines carry this risk, and whether it applies to you, is a question for your doctor or pharmacist rather than an audiologist.

What kind of medicines can be involved?

In general terms, medicine types that have occasionally been associated with hearing or balance effects include some used to treat serious infections, some used in cancer treatment, some used for heart or kidney conditions, and some pain-relief or anti-inflammatory medicines when taken at high doses over a long period. This list is general background only. Your prescribing doctor or pharmacist can tell you whether a medicine you are taking carries this risk, what dose and duration matter, and how it applies to your own health.

Are the effects permanent?

It varies. In some cases, changes may ease after the medicine is reduced or stopped under medical guidance. With others, the effect can be longer lasting. Because the outcome differs from person to person and medicine to medicine, any concern is best assessed individually by your doctor rather than assumed. The dose, the length of treatment and whether more than one medicine affecting the ears is used together all play a part, which is why two people on similar medicines can have very different experiences.

What signs should you watch for?

If you are taking a medicine your doctor has flagged as carrying this risk, it helps to be aware of new or worsening ringing in the ears, a feeling of fullness, muffled hearing, dizziness or unsteadiness. Report these to your prescribing doctor promptly. When a medicine carries this risk, doctors sometimes arrange baseline and follow-up hearing tests so any change can be picked up early.

What should you do if you are worried?

The most important point is not to stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own, because the condition being treated may be more serious than the hearing risk. Instead, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. They can weigh up the benefits and risks, consider alternatives where appropriate, and arrange monitoring if needed.

An audiologist can also play a role by measuring your hearing before, during or after treatment, giving your medical team an objective record to work from. If you have noticed a hearing change that you think may be related to a medication, a hearing assessment can help clarify what is happening and provide a baseline to compare against later. It is also worth mentioning any over-the-counter medicines and supplements to your doctor, as a full picture helps everyone involved make the safest decisions for you.

The key message is one of balance rather than alarm: for most people, common medicines at usual doses are not a hearing concern. At Hearing Help in Newport Marketplace on the Redcliffe Peninsula, you can book a hearing assessment without a referral. The audiologist can measure your hearing and, where relevant, coordinate with your GP or specialist so your care stays joined up.