About two hundred drugs causing tinnitus, most of which are found in your nearest pharmacy. Have you tried taking aspirin to cure your fever and noticed a high tone in your head without apparent source? That is an ototoxicity-induced tinnitus. Symptoms may be accompanied by hearing loss and dizziness.

The severity of the symptoms depends on the amount of drug taken and the duration. The effects of most ototoxic medications to the auditory system and pathways are poorly understood. What is coming into understanding is that some chemicals can get to your ears and do harm.

The most common drug associated with causing tinnitus and temporary deafness is aspirin. Other anti-inflammatory drugs that cure common cold, allergy, or headache may cause tinnitus. Chemotherapy drugs with platinum content are ototoxins too. Antibiotics with aminoglycosides are known ototoxic drugs as well.

Unfortunately, there are instances when there is no other alternative but the drug itself that causes tinnitus. In this case, following important measures is a wise thing to do.

1. When taking any medication, seek medical advice from your physician. If you have prior knowledge about your tinnitus, it is right to tell your specialist that you have the ear condition. He or she may direct you to the right brands of medicines.

2. Read drug labels. Drugs causing tinnitus may have written indications about side effects. Thus if you have a previous experience with ototoxicity, you may opt for safer substitutes. Of course, ask your specialist when seeking alternatives.

3. Be aware of the signs of ototoxic effects. Aside from ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears, other signs include sudden feeling of imbalance or dizziness, which suggests that the vestibular system has been disturbed. Feeling of fullness in the ears which is accompanied by a worsening of tinnitus and muffled hearing is another. When you notice these signs after taking a medication and you suspect the medication to be the triggering factor, inform your doctor.

4. Decrease volume of any sound-generating equipment at home (radio, stereo, dvd player, television, iPod, mp3, etc). Your ears should succumb to any more harm.

5. Take more glasses of water. The tissues in the vestibule-cochlear region are bathed in fluids. Hence, they are affected by sudden changes in the amount of body fluids. Caffeine, which is a popular diuretic, must be avoided whilst being under ototoxic medication.

A number of drugs causing tinnitus are commonly used, and some are even used as remedies for tinnitus. Aspirin, ibuprofen and anti-inflammatory drugs, for instance, can be bought over the counter. Hence, people should be well informed about these agents. Noise is not the only thing you should be wary of. Spread this information. Be a part of our stop-tinnitus campaign.