Can Your Medication Cause Tinnitus or Hearing Loss?

Most people never connect their medications to their ears. But some drugs are known to be ototoxic, meaning they can affect hearing or trigger tinnitus. Knowing which ones, and what to watch for, helps you catch a problem early. Here is a plain-language overview.

Important: never stop a prescribed medication on your own. If you notice a change in your hearing, talk to your pharmacist or doctor first.

Medications with the strongest evidence

Higher risk

• Platinum chemotherapy (cisplatin, carboplatin). About half of people treated with cisplatin experience some lasting hearing loss. This is usually permanent, so monitoring during treatment matters.
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, tobramycin). Used for serious infections, these can cause permanent hearing loss.

Moderate risk

• Loop diuretics (furosemide, known as Lasix). The risk is rare at normal doses and goes up with high intravenous doses.
• High-dose aspirin. Can cause ringing and temporary loss, which usually reverses once the dose drops or stops.

Lower risk

• NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen). Occasional use carries very little risk. The concern is regular use, several days a week, sustained over months or years.
• Antimalarials (quinine). Usually reversible at standard doses.

Warning signs to notice

Watch for these, especially if you have started a new medication:

• Tinnitus: new ringing, buzzing, or roaring in your ears
• Muffled hearing: sounds seem filtered or far away
• Balance changes: dizziness or unsteadiness, which is less common

Who is at higher risk

Adults over 60, people with chronic kidney disease, and anyone taking several medications at once face a higher chance of ototoxic effects. A pharmacist medication review can flag risky combinations.

What to do

If you notice any of the signs above, do not stop the medication yourself. Contact your pharmacist or doctor to review it, and book a hearing test so we can measure exactly what is happening. A baseline audiogram before and during high-risk treatment, like chemotherapy, is especially valuable, because it lets your care team catch changes early and adjust.

Our registered audiologist can assess your hearing, document any change, and work alongside your other providers. Book a hearing test at either Edmonton clinic or our Calgary location.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your specific medications.