Medications That Can Cause Ear Ringing and What to Do
Quick answer: Yes. Some medicines can cause or worsen ringing in the ears, including high doses of aspirin, some anti-inflammatory painkillers, certain antibiotics, some water pills, some cancer drugs and quinine-type medicines. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own: talk to the doctor or pharmacist who prescribed it, and get urgent care if you also notice sudden hearing loss or dizziness.↗ Share on X
Yes, certain medications can cause ringing in your ears. Doctors call drugs that can harm the inner ear "ototoxic" (oto = ear, toxic = harmful). The most common ones are high doses of aspirin, some anti-inflammatory painkillers, a group of strong antibiotics, some "water pills," some cancer drugs, and quinine-type medicines. Often the ringing fades when the dose is lowered or the drug is changed, but sometimes it stays. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Call the doctor or pharmacist first.
Important: This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, ringing with dizziness or loss of balance, or ringing that pulses with your heartbeat, get medical care the same day. Sudden hearing loss is treated as an emergency because early treatment matters.
Which medicines are known to cause ear ringing?
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Natural Ways to Calm Gum Swelling at Home Safely →Below are the groups most often linked to tinnitus (the medical word for ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears). Not everyone who takes them gets ringing. The risk usually depends on the dose, how long you take it, your kidneys, and whether you take more than one of these drugs at once.
| Medicine group | Common examples | What usually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Aspirin (salicylates) | aspirin at high daily doses | Ringing often fades after the dose is lowered, with a doctor's guidance |
| NSAID painkillers | ibuprofen, naproxen (high or frequent doses) | Ringing may appear with heavy use; often improves when use is reduced |
| Aminoglycoside antibiotics | gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin (usually given in hospital) | Can cause lasting damage; doctors often monitor blood levels |
| Loop diuretics ("water pills") | furosemide, bumetanide (mainly high doses or IV) | Risk is higher with high doses, given fast, or with kidney problems |
| Platinum chemotherapy | cisplatin, carboplatin | Hearing is often checked before and during treatment |
| Quinine-type drugs | quinine, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine | Ringing can be an early warning sign; tell your doctor |
| Some antidepressants and other drugs | varies by person | Ringing is listed as a possible side effect for some |
This list is not complete. Hundreds of medicines list tinnitus as a possible side effect on their leaflet. The quickest way to check your own medicines is to read the leaflet that came in the box or ask your pharmacist.
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How do you know if your medicine is the cause?
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This content is informational and is not a substitute for medical advice. Supplements do not cure or treat diseases.
There is no home test that proves it. But a few clues make a medicine more likely to be the trigger:
1. Timing. The ringing started days or weeks after you began a new medicine, or after your dose went up.
2. Both ears. Drug-related ringing usually affects both ears, not just one.
3. Dose pattern. It gets louder on days you take more (for example, extra painkillers during a bad week).
4. Other new signs. Some people also notice muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness, or mild unsteadiness.
Ringing in only one ear, especially with hearing loss on that side, needs a doctor's check no matter what medicine you take. It can have other causes that should be ruled out.
What should you do first?
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Ringing Ears After a Concert: When It Fades, When It Stays →Follow these steps in order. Do not skip step 1.
1. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine yourself. Some drugs, like heart, blood pressure, seizure or mental health medicines, can be dangerous to stop suddenly.
2. Write down the facts. Note the date the ringing started, which ear, how loud (0 to 10), and every medicine and supplement you take, with doses. Include over-the-counter pills.
3. Call the doctor or pharmacist who manages that medicine. Say: "I started having ringing in my ears after starting [medicine]. Could this be a side effect?"
4. Ask about options. These may include a lower dose, a different schedule, or a different medicine. Only your prescriber can decide this.
5. Ask for a hearing test. A hearing test (audiogram) gives a starting point. It helps show if hearing is changing over time.
6. Go back if it gets worse. New hearing loss, dizziness, or ringing that keeps getting louder should be checked again soon.
For over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen, check how much you really take in a day. Many people take more than the label says during a painful week. A pharmacist can help you find a safer plan for your pain.
When is ear ringing an emergency?
Go to urgent care or the emergency room, or call your doctor the same day, if you have:
- Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears (it may feel like the ear is "plugged")
- Dizziness, spinning, or trouble walking together with ringing
- Ringing that beats in time with your pulse
- Ringing after a head injury
- Weakness on one side of the face, trouble speaking, or a severe headache
These signs can point to problems that need fast care. Waiting a few days can make treatment less effective.
Will the ringing go away after you change the medicine?
It depends on the drug and on how long you took it.
- With aspirin and NSAID painkillers, ringing often improves after the dose is reduced, usually under a doctor's or pharmacist's guidance.
- With some antibiotics and some chemotherapy drugs, damage to the inner ear can be permanent. That is why doctors often test hearing during treatment.
- With water pills, risk is mostly linked to high doses or fast IV use, and it often improves when the dose changes.
No one can promise the ringing will disappear. But even when it stays, many people find it becomes much less bothersome over time with the right support.
How can you live with the ringing day to day?
While you work with your doctor, these habits help many people cope:
1. Use gentle background sound. A fan, soft music, or a white noise app makes the ringing less noticeable, especially at night.
2. Avoid total silence. Quiet rooms make tinnitus seem louder.
3. Protect your ears from loud noise. Use earplugs at concerts, with power tools, or with a lawn mower. Noise can make ringing worse.
4. Keep headphone volume low. A simple rule: if someone next to you can hear your music, it is too loud.
5. Watch caffeine, alcohol and salt. Some people notice their ringing gets worse with these. Keep a simple diary for two weeks to see if this is true for you.
6. Protect your sleep. Poor sleep makes tinnitus feel stronger. Keep a regular bedtime and use background sound.
7. Manage stress. Stress and ringing feed each other. Slow breathing, walks, or talking with someone you trust can help.
Which treatments do specialists use?
If the ringing lasts more than a few weeks, ask for a referral to an audiologist (a hearing specialist) or an ENT doctor (ear, nose and throat). Depending on your case, they may suggest:
- Hearing aids, if you also have hearing loss. Hearing better often makes ringing less noticeable.
- Sound therapy, using devices or apps that play steady, calm sounds.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy that helps change how the brain reacts to the ringing. It does not remove the sound, but it can reduce stress and improve sleep.
- Tinnitus retraining or counseling programs run by hearing clinics.
Be careful with supplements and "miracle cures" sold online. Many promise to stop tinnitus fast. Talk to your doctor before taking any of them, because some can interact with your medicines.
What questions should you ask at your appointment?
Bring this short list:
1. Could any of my current medicines be causing this?
2. Is there a safer option or a lower dose I could try?
3. Should my hearing be tested now and again later?
4. Which signs mean I should come back right away?
5. Are any of my over-the-counter pills or supplements adding to the problem?
Bring your full medicine list, including vitamins and herbal products. Many drug side effects are found simply because a pharmacist sees the whole list.
Your next step
Today, write down every medicine and supplement you take, with the dose and the date you started each one. Then call your pharmacist or doctor and ask if any of them can cause ringing in the ears. If you have sudden hearing loss or dizziness along with the ringing, do not wait for a regular appointment: get care today.
FAQ
Can ibuprofen cause ringing in the ears?
Yes, ibuprofen and other NSAID painkillers can cause ringing, mostly at high or frequent doses. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor about how much you take and about safer ways to manage your pain.
Should I stop my medicine if my ears start ringing?
Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Some drugs are dangerous to stop suddenly. Call the doctor or pharmacist who prescribed it and ask if the ringing could be a side effect.
Is medication-related tinnitus permanent?
It depends on the drug. Ringing from aspirin or NSAIDs often improves when the dose is lowered. Some antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs can cause lasting damage. A doctor and a hearing test can tell you more about your case.
When should I see a doctor for ringing in my ears?
Get care the same day if you have sudden hearing loss, dizziness, ringing in time with your pulse, or ringing after a head injury. For ringing that lasts more than a few weeks, ask for a hearing test and an ENT or audiologist visit.
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Educational content, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making health decisions.