Aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naprosyn are sold over-the-counter and can have many harmful side effects. Aspirin and NSAIDs are widely known to trigger gastric bleeding, while too much acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Few people know that permanent hearing loss may occur as a result of common treatment practices.
Young Adults Are Most at Risk for Hearing Loss
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston followed 26,917 men beginning in 1986. The men underwent assessments every two years. Taking over-the-counter pain medications more than twice a week was defined as regular use. There were 3,488 cases of new-onset hearing loss during the study, which was published in the March 2010 issue of The American Journal of Medicine. In this trial, regular use of aspirin, acetaminophen or NSAIDs was associated with a higher risk of hearing loss and the greatest impact was seen in men who were under the age of 50.
Prescription Mixtures Pose Even Greater Risks
At the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, scientists exposed mice to acetaminophen, the narcotic hydrocodone, and the amino acid L-carnitine, either alone or in combinations. The death of auditory cells was mainly associated with acetaminophen, although the effect was made slightly worse with exposure to both hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone alone did not appear to cause hearing loss. L-carnitine offered partial protection against cellular damage. The findings were published in the June 2010 issue of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery.
Deafness Progresses Rapidly and Is Permanent
A study by doctors at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houson involved five patients who reported taking from 10 to 300 mg. per day of a pain killer containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hearing loss started in one or both ears but progressed over a matter of months to deafness in both ears. Steroid medications were ineffective at slowing or stopping the condition. All five subjects received cochlear implants to improve hearing. The research was published in the May 2007 issue of Pain Physician. Cochlear implants are surgically placed electrical devices that provide some sensory ability, although speech may be indistinguishable from loud background noise. Cochlear implants fall short of achieving natural hearing, particularly when it comes to music.
Acetaminophen and other fever reducers may cause hearing loss when used regularly. The risks increase when medications are taken over a long period of time and when combination narcotic painkillers are used. Research indicates that younger individuals may be at greater risk and that the antioxidant effects of L-carnitine may be protective. Analgesic-induced hearing loss is permanent and currently the only treatment is cochlear implantation.
Sources:
- The American Journal of Medicine, Analgesic Use and the Risk of Hearing Loss in Men, Curhan, S.G. et. al., 123(3), 2010
- Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Acetaminophen Ototoxicity After Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone Abuse: Evidence From Two Parallel in Vitro Mouse Models, Yorgason, J.G. et. al., 142(6), 2010
- Pain Physician, Hydrocodone Use and Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Ho, T. et. al., 10(3), 2007
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Mary Earhart - Mary Earhart, RN, BSN, is a Licensed Midwife. She has written articles for professional journals and grants for non-profit agencies as ...
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