Drugs Can Trigger the Deaf

Painkillers or analgesics are often consumed without prescription. But a study showed eating two or more analgesic drugs in a week could cause hearing loss.

"Although analgesics are available at drug stores freely without prescription, but the drug is still the potential to cause side effects," said Sharon Curhan, MD, of the Channing Laboratory at the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, as quoted from Arthritis Today, Monday (5/17/2010).

The truth has long been known that some types of analgesics high dose can cause hearing loss and tinnitus (buzzing in the ears). In addition, in some cases, high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been associated with hearing loss.

For this study, researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Vanderbilt University and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary studied data from nearly 27,000 people aged between 40-74 years. Participants must fill out questionnaires every two years during the 18 years since 1986.

Participants were asked to answer a series of medical and demographic questions, such as whether the hearing loss was diagnosed by a specialist and whether the drug regularly use painkillers.

Regular usage of the drug here is to drink at least twice a week. It turns out about 3,500 cases are reported almost hearing loss.

"This finding is quite striking. We found the relationship between regular analgesic use and hearing loss in young men," says Dr. Curhan.

Although this study did not see the biological mechanisms that can cause this, but the researchers have some theories. Possible types of drugs that reduce blood flow to the small tube in the inner ear (cochlea) in charge of processing the sound vibrations.

"Acetaminophen can spend protein glutathione in the cochlea. Though this glutathione protect the cochlea from damage, such damage may be caused by noise," he added.

Meanwhile, Tom Abelson, MD, a physician staff of the Department of Otolaryngology at the Cleveland Clinic's Head and Neck Institute in Ohio, said that researchers still do not know how the effects of low usage of the drug. But someone still has to consider the risks and benefits of long-term drug use.

"For people who do need these drugs in order to function better, such as rheumatoid arthritis, should not be afraid of deaf or become a reason for not taking the medicine," says Dr. Abelson.

Any change in either drug use or non-prescription prescription should be discussed in advance with medical experts to consider the risks and benefits.

Hearing loss is estimated to affect 36 million people and about a third are aged 40-49 years.