Medicine safety
Medications That Cause Tinnitus: Ototoxic Drug List
Medications that cause tinnitus include some pain relievers, antibiotics, cancer medicines, water pills, malaria medicines and antidepressants. The term for ear-harming drugs is ototoxic. Most people on these drugs never get ringing. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist first.
Written by the Quietum Plus label deskUpdated · 4 min read
Which medications can cause tinnitus?
Many medicines can cause tinnitus, and the group called ototoxic drugs is the best known. Ototoxic means harmful to the ear.
Mayo Clinic lists NSAIDs, some antibiotics, cancer medicines, water pills, malaria medicines and some antidepressants. It adds that higher doses generally make ringing worse (Mayo Clinic, Tinnitus). The NHS also names aspirin (NHS, Tinnitus). Only a prescriber can say if a drug is the cause.
| Group | Common use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| NSAIDs and aspirin | Pain, fever, swelling | Higher doses are the usual concern |
| Some antibiotics | Infections | Only certain types |
| Some cancer medicines | Chemotherapy | Ask the oncology team |
| Water pills | Blood pressure, swelling | Ask which type you take |
| Malaria medicines | Prevention, treatment | Ask the travel clinic |
| Some antidepressants | Mood | Do not stop suddenly |
What should you do if a medicine may be causing your ringing?
Keep taking prescribed medicine and call your prescriber or pharmacist. Stopping a drug on your own can be harmful, and the ringing may have another cause.
Write down when the ringing started and when you began or changed each drug, vitamin or herb. A clear timeline helps the person who prescribed it decide if the drug is a likely cause.
List everything you take
Include over-the-counter pain relievers, vitamins, herbs and supplements.
Note the dates
Mark when ringing began and when any dose changed.
Ask before you change anything
Your prescriber may adjust the dose, switch drugs or say it is not the cause.
Can supplements and herbs cause ringing too?
Yes, some herbal supplements can cause or worsen tinnitus. Natural does not mean harmless.
The NIDCD adds that no vitamin, herb or supplement advertised for tinnitus has been shown to work (NIDCD, Tinnitus). So adding one in hope of relief can add a new unknown. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every product you use, including those from our supplements and medicines guide.
Never stop a blood pressure, heart, mood or infection medicine because of ringing. Ask your prescriber what to do next.
Quietum Plus: from $49 a bottle60 capsules a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsWhat about Quietum Plus and ringing from medicines?
Quietum Plus is a dietary supplement, not a medicine, and it has not been tested for ringing from drugs. It comes in a white bottle of 60 capsules.
The bottle front prints no serving, no amounts and no directions, so follow your bottle's label. Its sales page lists 18 ingredients, and some, such as piperine, ginger and dong quai, can interact with certain drugs. See the side effects page and ask your doctor or pharmacist before use. Show them the bottle.
When ringing is a doctor question, not a supplement question
Sudden hearing loss in one ear (same day), ringing that beats with your pulse, ringing after a head injury, or ringing with dizziness, weakness or a drooping face. Call 911 for sudden weakness or a drooping face. Sources: NIDCD on sudden deafness (NIDCD, Sudden Deafness), the NHS (NHS, Tinnitus), Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic, Tinnitus) and the tinnitus guideline (AAO-HNSF Tinnitus Guideline 2014).
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Prices from the sales page, October 19, 2026 (Quietum Plus order section). Two bottles are $158 plus $9.99 shipping. Every pack carries the 60-day money-back guarantee. Check your medicines first.
01FAQ
Drug-related ringing questions
Does ototoxic mean the ringing is permanent?
No. Ototoxic only means a drug can harm the ear. Some effects fade after a dose change, while others can last. A prescriber or audiologist can judge which is likely for your drug and check your hearing if you notice changes.
Can aspirin or ibuprofen make my ears ring?
They can, mostly at higher doses. Mayo Clinic lists NSAIDs and the NHS names aspirin. Many people use them with no ringing. If ringing starts after a pain reliever, ask your pharmacist about options instead of just stopping.
Who should I tell about ringing that began after a new drug?
Tell the prescriber who started it, or your pharmacist, as soon as you notice. If you also have sudden hearing loss or dizziness, seek care the same day. An audiologist can test your hearing for a baseline.
02Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle images, the sales page and linked NIH, NIDCD, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Goquietumplus, a USA Authorized Quietum Plus Retailer, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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