9 Medications That Can Cause Ringing in the Ears

Medications That Can Cause Ringing in the Ears

Tinnitus, commonly described as a persistent ringing in the ears, can appear unexpectedly, leaving people puzzled about its origins. While this condition may arise from various factors like prolonged loud noises or ear injuries, the medications you take could play a huge role in triggering these unwelcome – and often distressing – sounds.

Recognizing the connection between certain medications and tinnitus helps many people manage and potentially alleviate this stubborn condition. Knowing what medications cause ringing in the ears can empower you to have more informed discussions with an audiologist and your healthcare provider.

So, what medications cause ringing in the ears? They’re labeled as ototoxic (ear-harming). Let’s take a look at some of the known medications that can harm your ear health so you can keep your hearing health a top priority.

Types of Medications Known to Be Ototoxic

Here’s a list of ototoxic medications that can trigger symptoms of tinnitus. Now, if you’re currently taking any of these, there’s no need to panic. Although these types of medications are known to cause tinnitus, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll experience any symptoms. If you are experiencing ringing or buzzing in your ears, you shouldn't stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor first. They can either adjust your dosage or prescribe alternative means of treatment.

Antibiotics

Strong antibiotics like aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin (Gentafair) and tobramycin (Tobrex), are known to potentially cause tinnitus. These antibiotics are typically used to treat serious bacterial infections. While antibiotics are certainly effective, they have been linked to causing ringing in the ears and other hearing problems in some users.

Cancer Medications

Chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin (Platinol, Platinol-AQ) and methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Rheumatrex, Trexall) are drugs known to be associated with tinnitus. Both cisplatin and carboplatin, used in treating cancer, may lead to hearing issues, including tinnitus and even hearing loss. Patients being treated for cancer should keep their hearing health monitored by an ear doctor to protect their hearing and minimize the likelihood of developing any auditory complications.

Blood Pressure Medication

Certain blood pressure medications, like diuretics and beta-blockers, may be linked to tinnitus. Diuretics often end in "-pril," such as lisinopril (Zestril, Prinvil), enalapril (Vasotec), and ramipril (Altace). Beta-blockers, like bisoprolol (Zebeta) and nebivolol (Bystolic), typically end in "-ol" and are likely to cause that phantom noise in your ears.

Antidepressants

Unfortunately, certain antidepressants are also known to trigger symptoms of tinnitus. Tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline (Elavil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor), can possibly be linked to ringing in the ears. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro) may also be associated with tinnitus.

Anxiety Medications

If you discontinue taking benzodiazepines for anxiety, such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or clonazepam (Klonopin), tinnitus might pop up as a withdrawal symptom. Using these medications comes with the possibility of experiencing irritating ear ringing if the medication is suddenly stopped.

Aspirin

Aspirin, a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), may cause tinnitus symptoms in higher doses. Even though aspirin is widely used for pain relief, its potential to induce ringing in the ears is notable, but the sounds typically lessen once the medication is discontinued.

Anticonvulsants

Lamotrigine (Lamictal), sodium valproate (Depakote), and carbamazepine (Tegretol) are anticonvulsant medications that sometimes lead to tinnitus. Although rare, these medications can occasionally cause ringing in the ears and are commonly used as a form of treatment for epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

Acne Medication

Isotretinoin, known as Accutane, and other oral acne treatments may lead to tinnitus. Luckily, symptoms usually fade after stopping the medication. If you’re looking for an alternative to avoid the potential complications linked with oral acne medications, topical acne treatments or hormonal therapy may be potentially effective options.

Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine, often prescribed for autoimmune diseases like lupus and malaria, gained attention as a COVID-19 treatment. While not common, it may cause tinnitus or hearing loss in some patients, where auditory changes can sometimes persist.

Ways to Manage Tinnitus While Continuing Medication

If you’ve developed tinnitus and stopping your medication isn't an option, other treatments can help manage your symptoms. Tinnitus retraining therapy is a popular approach to treatment, combining counseling with sound therapy to make the ringing more tolerable. White noise machines and sound-masking devices can also help by making the ringing less noticeable.

Hearing aids are another great option, as they can amplify surrounding sounds to make symptoms less obvious. Many of today’s models are also engineered with advanced tinnitus-masking features that let you choose from a bank of calming sounds and stream them to dullen the tinnitus.

Silence Your Tinnitus at Elite Hearing Centers of America

While there is no cure for tinnitus, visiting a hearing clinic can make all the difference in managing your condition. Our clinical teams at Elite Hearing Centers of America proudly provide world-class tinnitus testing and treatment solutions designed to give you the relief you deserve.

From personalized evaluations to innovative hearing aids with tinnitus-masking technology, we have options available to suit your hearing needs. Schedule a virtual or in-person appointment at your nearest hearing center today and discover how we can help you return to a more peaceful auditory experience.