American Expatriate Costa Rica

English-language news and information on Costa Rica

  • Home
  • Original Articles
  • News Reports
  • Book Reviews

130 drugs increase risk of hearing problems

July 10, 2017 by Staff News Writer

Protecting your ears should be as important as caring for your heart, your eyesight or your stomach.

Therefore, you must avoid self-medication and consult about the side effects, since at least 130 long-term drugs increase the risk of developing irreversible hearing problems.

This phenomenon, known ototoxicity, can be potentiated with drugs for high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney and liver failure, and infections.

Some of these drugs are:
• The family of amino glucosides
• Antibiotics such as: streptomycin, neomycin, gentamicin or antineoplastic agents such as cisplatin
• Loop diuretics, salicylates, etc.

According to Dayana Leitón, an audiologist at Hearing Clinics,

these substances alter the inner ear, specifically the cochlea and the vestibule. Therefore, it is suggested that the patient consult their physician if the indicated treatment is within the range of these products that can damage the hearing.”

In addition, the doctor stressed that if you have to undergo a prolonged treatment with this type of drugs, it is advisable to perform a hearing test before, during and after the start of the process, as this will allow to detect if there was real damage, as well as to see if it is reversible or not.

Clinical audiometry may be sufficient at the beginning.

There are other elements that may predispose a patient to develop greater ototoxicity. For example, older adults, premature babies, people who metabolize the toxins more slowly or who use more than one drug of this type at the same time.

Although hearing problems are not painful, they manifest with symptoms such as tinnitus -ringing in the ear- , the most annoying of symptoms for those who are unaware that they have a hearing problem.

Other signs that can be: nausea, vomiting, dizziness and vertigo, said the specialist.

crhoy.com

Related articles:

  1. Drugs, sex and alcohol: youngsters at risk in Costa Rica’s coastal towns
  2. Court orders new hearing on construction of mega port in Limon
  3. How to prevent students from getting into drugs and violence?
  4. Do you want to know if your employees are using drugs? Actúa 6+ can help you!
  5. Mandatory attention for young people linked to drugs
  6. National authorities will control the sale of some drugs

Filed Under: News Reports

SIGN UP FOR AMERICAN EXPATRIATE IN COSTA RICA

It's free, we respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Connect with Social Media

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Follow @expatcostarica

Search Articles and News Reports

Articles by Publication Date

July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Apr    

News Summary

U.S. President Orders Navy Task Force to Caribbean to Counter Venezuela Threat

Costa Rica Government Silent on Travel Ban with Just 13 Days Left

News Summary

Legislators approve moratorium for registration of shareholders

President confirms gasoline give away for ethanol pilot project

Chinese company sells low cost smart phones in Costa Rica

Search continues for small plane missing in Drake

Farmers will march to the Ministry of Agriculture

IMN warns of dangerous UV radiation this Friday

Copyright © 2010 to 2025 · Link to Legal Notices and Privacy Policy