Medications That May Affect Hearing and/or Balance Fact Sheet

Some medications, even those prescribed by your doctor, may affect your hearing or balance. Side effects from medications may be related to amount of dosage or from interactions with other medications you are taking, and can vary from individual to individual. Please consult your ENT specialist if you have concerns about the hearing-related side effects (ototoxicity) of medications you are taking.

Cinchona alkaloids
Minimum risk, usually temporary and reversible

Quinidine

Chloroquine

Quinine (Q-vel®)

Salycilates

Compounds containing Aspirin may cause hearing problems in high doses (20-30 tablets per day) though this is reversible.)

Acetaminophen

Aspirin

Anti-inflammatory Agents

Problems seen in patients with sensitivity, symptoms reversible

Pyrazolones
Ibuprofen (propionic acids)
Ascetic acids

Aminoglycosides

Listed in order of toxicity, these drugs are given only by IV/injection, not orally. They can affect either hearing, balance or both.

Neomycin
Streptomycin
Kanamycin
Amikacin, Gentamicin
Tobramycin
Netilmicin
Rinostamycin
Dihydrostreptomycin

Pain Medications

Hydrocodone in combination with acetaminophen

This combination medication is distributed as a prescription painkiller under various names including the brands Vicodin®, Hydrocet®, Lorcet®, Norco® and their generic counterparts. Hearing problems have been seen in individuals who take between 20 –100 tablets per day. This overuse can cause irreversible and total hearing loss.