Link between Painkillers and Hearing Loss

Can taking common over-the-counter painkillers lead to hearing loss? The results of a study published last month in the American Journal of Medicine investigated this question. Participants included about 27,000 men who were tracked every 2 years for 18 years enrolled in the Health Professionals’ Follow-Up study. The data collected included medical information, use of analgesics, and hearing loss among other data.  

Acetaminophen

Researchers found that men below 50 years of age who regularly took acetaminophen (found in Tylenol) more than two times per week had about double the risk of hearing loss compared to men who did not take the medicine regularly.

Ibuprofen (main ingredient in Advil) and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID)

Men younger than 60 years who regularly took ibuprofen and NSAID at least twice a week had almost two-thirds higher risk of hearing loss compared to men to took it less often.

For men younger than 50 years, the risk of hearing loss was higher by 33 percent using aspirin, 61 percent with use of NSAIDs and 99 percent with use of acetaminophen, compared to men of the same age who used these drugs less often (all based on taking painkillers twice a week). 

Why does this happen? According to one of the researchers, Dr. Sharon G. Curhan, of Channing Laboratory and Brigham and Women’s Hospital mentions that high doses of painkillers are known to have a toxic effects on the ear leading to hearing loss and tinnitus or ringing in the ears.

A positive finding for men 60 years and older was that they did not show a greater risk for hearing loss when compared to the findings for younger men.

The take home message is that you should consult with your physician about the risks of taking over-the-counter or prescription medication. If you think you have a hearing problem, you can have your hearing tested by an audiologist. 

Via Yahoo! Health