Presentation
When large doses are given orally or by colonic irrigation for intestinal sterilization, enough may be absorbed to affect hearing, particularly if diffuse mucosal lesions of the colon are present. [msdmanuals.com]
Ears
- Tinnitus
Chemotherapeutic (antineoplastic) drugs, particularly those containing platinum (cisplatin and carboplatin), can cause tinnitus and hearing loss. [msdmanuals.com]
Urogenital
- Renal Insufficiency
Vancomycin can cause hearing loss, especially in the presence of renal insufficiency. Some mitochondrial DNA mutations predispose to aminoglycoside ototoxicity. [msdmanuals.com]
Neurologic
- Vertigo
Although vertigo and difficulty maintaining balance tend to be temporary, severe loss of vestibular sensitivity may persist, sometimes permanently. [msdmanuals.com]
When people have ear disorders caused by drugs, their symptoms include one or more of the following: Tinnitus (noise or ringing in the ears) Problems with walking and balance Vertigo (a false sensation of moving or spinning) may develop temporarily. [merckmanuals.com]
- Oscillopsia
Loss of vestibular sensitivity causes difficulty walking, especially in the dark, and oscillopsia (a sensation of bouncing of the environment with each step). [msdmanuals.com]
Treatment
If possible before treatment with an ototoxic drug, hearing should be measured and then monitored during treatment; symptoms are not reliable warning signs. [msdmanuals.com]
Prevention
Using the lowest possible dose of aminoglycosides and measuring drug levels during treatment may prevent hearing loss caused by ototoxic drug use. Drugs are stopped if possible, but there is no specific treatment. Click here for Patient Education [msdmanuals.com]
To prevent harming the fetus, pregnant women should avoid taking ototoxic antibiotics. Older people and people with preexisting hearing loss should not be treated with ototoxic drugs if other effective drugs are available. [merckmanuals.com]
Hearing health and care: the need for improved hearing loss prevention and hearing conservation practices. [scielo.isciii.es]