What is ototoxicity and how is it related to chemotherapy?
• Ototoxicity occurs most often, after you have received medications that have caused you to lose your hearing, or feel dizzy. • Ototoxic medications are drugs that can cause damage to the inner ear, and result in temporary or permanent loss of hearing. It may also cause your loss of hearing to become worse. • Some common medications that cause ototoxicity, if given in high doses may include: • Cisplatin, and other types of chemotherapy • High doses of salicylates, such as aspirin • Non-steroidal anti inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as naproxen sodium • Diuretics or “water pills,” such as furosemide (Lasix®) • Antibiotics, such as Erythromycin, Gentamycin, Tobramycin or Streptomycin. • Ototoxicity following medications may be due to a long-term exposure to these drugs. Your risk for developing ototoxicity increases as the drug accumulates in your body. • It may also come from giving high doses of the drug at a time, which may damage certain cells in your inner ear. The hearing
