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Could using aspirin promote hearing loss?
OTC Pain Relievers The not-so-known side effects of taking them BY WILLIAM HENDERSON
Most of us are aware that over-the-counter (OTC) nonste- roidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause gastro- enterological (GI) problems like ulcers. But did you know that these drugs also increase the risk of hearing loss in men and may cause liver damage, increase blood pressure and exacerbate heart disease? Acetaminophen, the active ingre- dient found in many OTC and prescription medicines to help relieve pain and reduce fever, can also have effects be- yond just easing a headache or the flu. One study showed that the drug can ease the emotional loss experienced dur- ing a break-up or from social rejection. How so? The places in our brain where we register physical and social pain seem to overlap, according to a research team led by C. Nathan DeWall, Ph.D., of the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology in Lexington. De- Wall and his team caution, though, against using acetamin- ophen for long periods as a pick-me-up because of an increased risk of liver damage. Since you can find acetamin-
ophen in many cold medications, along with pain relievers such as Vicodin and Percocet, be sure you’re not taking more of the drug than needed. In an American Journal of Medicine article, Sharon G. Curhan, M.D., ScM, Channing Labora- tory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hos- pital in Boston, and colleagues wrote that men who use aspirin regularly and who are 59 and younger were 33 per- cent more likely to experience hearing loss than men who do not regularly use it. For men who take acetaminophen, regular users under 50 were 99 percent more likely to ex- perience hearing loss compared to men aged 60 and older at 16 percent. “Regular use of analgesics, specifically aspirin, NSAIDs and acetaminophen, might increase the risk of adult hearing loss,” said Curhan. But remember, since ev- eryone responds to medication differently, you may not experience any side effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Admin- istration suggests reading all drug labels and talking to your doctor if you experience any unexpected complications. PR