Causes of ototoxicity
Healthcare providers consider more than 200 medicines to be ototoxic drugs, or medicines that can potentially damage your inner ear. Some of these medicines require prescriptions, but others don’t. Most of these medicines are essential. Often, the benefits of taking the drug (treating cancer, for example) outweigh potential risks. Other ototoxic drugs only pose risks at extremely high doses that most people never receive. Aminoglycoside antibiotics Aminoglycoside antibiotics treat bacterial infections. Along with chemotherapy drugs, aminoglycosides are the most commonly known ototoxic drug. Types include: Amikacin. Gentamicin. Kanamycin. Neomycin. Netilmicin. Streptomycin. Tobramycin. Vancomycin. Chemotherapy drugs Chemotherapy drugs treat various types of cancer. Ototoxic types include: Carboplatin. Cisplatin. Loop diuretics (water pills) Loop diuretics help your kidneys move excess salt and fluid out of your body. Ototoxic types include: Bumetanide. Ethacrynic acid. Furosemide. Torsemide. Other ototoxic drugs and chemicals Rarer causes of ototoxicity include: Quinine: Drugs providers use to treat malaria. Salicylates: Common over-the-counter (OTC) drug type. The most well-known salicylate is aspirin. Environmental substances and chemicals: Some causes of ototoxicity exist naturally in the environment, including mercury, tin, lead and carbon monoxide.