New publications
Popular painkillers can make you deaf
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
It is safe to say that the most popular medicines in the world are painkillers. When we have a headache, stomach ache or backache, we take analgesics. However, getting rid of pain can cost too much – losing your hearing.
This is stated by employees of Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Women who took ibuprofen and acetaminophen (paracetamol) twice a week or more had an increased risk of hearing loss, doctors said. The more often women took the drugs, the more likely they were to go deaf.
The researchers examined the association between the frequency of taking these drugs and the risk of developing deafness.
The experts monitored 60,000 women aged 31-48. Doctors observed their health for 14 years, from 1995 to 2009.
During this period, 10,012 women complained of hearing loss. Women who took painkillers 2-3 times a week had a 13% increased risk of hearing loss compared to those who took the medication less than once a week. Those who took painkillers 4-5 times a week had a 21% increased risk. Women who took the medications more often exposed themselves to an even greater risk.
“These results are related to the fact that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs disrupt the blood supply to the cochlea of the inner ear,” says Sharon Kuran, co-author of the study. Acetaminophen destroys the factors that protect it from damage. Although analgesics are sold in pharmacies without a prescription and are widely available, they carry potential side effects. If people suffering from pain syndromes need regular intake of such drugs, then before starting self-medication, it is necessary to consult with the attending physician. If possible, it is better to look for other ways and means to relieve pain.”
Experts noted that the link between hearing loss and taking painkillers was most pronounced in women under 50. In the US, by age 60, 2/3 of American women have hearing problems.
According to the World Health Organization, hearing loss in adulthood is the sixth most common disease in developed countries.
[ 1 ]