Download Could Life-Saving Drugs Be Ototoxic? Some medication can have a

Could Life-Saving Drugs Be Ototoxic?
Some medication can have a profoundly devastating effect on hearing
March is Tuberculosis (TB) month and as people in the medical profession gear up to
create awareness of this common and often deadly infectious disease, it is of paramount
importance to inform patients of the ototoxic risks that are inherently associated with TB
medication.
Lezanie Bakker General Manager of Oticon, a leading hearing aid manufacturer, warns
about the pitfalls of ototoxic medication. “I am sure we have all received prescribed
medication at some stage in our lives and usually all the jars, boxes and bottles have
little information leaflets that accompany them. How many of us actually read it? Does
your doctor or pharmacist discuss some of the side effects that the medication may have
on you? Do you know what an ototoxic drug is?”
“Ototoxicity is damage that is done to a person’s hearing by means of a toxin.
The
toxin is often introduced to the system through medication, which affects the cochlea or
auditory nerve and sometimes even the vestibular system. The damage can range from
being temporary to permanent and can also cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or a lack
of balance. What makes the whole process such a grey area is the fact that most
ototoxic medication is necessary to save the patient’s life which therefore creates a
double edged sword whichever way you look at it,” explains Lezanie.
Ototoxic drugs include some antibiotics, loop diuretics, medication for renal failure and
platinum-based chemotherapy agents such as Cisplatin to name a few. A large majority
of drugs administered in the treatment of TB are ototoxic and include Isoniazid,
Rifampin, Streptomycin and Para-amino Salicylic Acid among others.
“Typically, ototoxic drugs begin their damage at the highest frequency at which the
human ear can hear and then work their way down the frequency spectrum. It means
that the hearing loss becomes more pronounced as time passes. The patient might not
even be aware of the damage as it occurs,” says Lezanie.
“The best approach is to be aware of the risk that the medication has on your hearing by
talking to your doctor. One should continuously undergo hearing tests before and whilst
taking ototoxic medication. In some cases the hearing loss can be addressed by means
of intervention in the form of hearing aids or even a cochlear implant. It is however
crucial to note that nerve damage cannot be remedied and it is something that the
patient will have to adjust to if such damage occurs,” concludes Lezanie.
Ends...
About Oticon
Oticon is one of the most innovative hearing aid manufacturers in the world. With more than 100 years of experience, Oticon
has spearheaded a number of technological breakthroughs which have made a significant difference for people with hearing
loss including the first ear-level digital hearing aid, the first voice-activated hearing instruments, the first hearing system with
Artificial Intelligence, the first stylish “fashion” hearing device and the first hearing device to connect wirelessly to modern,
Bluetooth™ enabled equipment. Oticon is the only hearing aid manufacturer with its own psycho acoustic research centre,
ensuring that the needs of hearing aid users are always put first when developing new solutions.
Issued by:
Teresa Settas Communications
Deidre Beylis
(011) 894 2767 or [email protected]
On behalf of:
Oticon South Africa
Jasmine Germanus
(011) 675 6104 or [email protected]
Date:
March 2013