Common anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications

According to Schacht et al. (2012), aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid, and other salicylates can cause tinnitus and temporary hearing loss. Although in most cases the symptoms disappear when the medication is discontinued, the risk increases considerably with high doses.

Consequently, the study published in Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine reports that acetaminophen and other non-opioid painkillers have also been linked to an increased risk of hearing problems, especially with prolonged use.

These medications are generally considered safe, but evidence shows that prolonged use, especially in combination with other medications, increases the likelihood of hearing complications.

Antimalarials and specific antibiotics

Medications such as chloroquine and quinine, historically used to treat malaria, can cause tinnitus, dizziness, and hearing loss. The exact mechanism is still being investigated, but it appears to be related to damage to the auditory nerve.

Furthermore, antibiotics such as vancomycin, especially when administered with aminoglycosides, increase the risk of ototoxicity. This combined effect poses a considerable risk in hospital treatment.

Although these medications have saved millions of lives, their ototoxic potential requires rigorous monitoring in at-risk patients.