Health - Hydrocodone + acetaminophen causes profound hearing loss

[eltimmy]

Actually I assume this is completely due to the acetaminophen, which is just incredibly toxic. Not just liver-toxic anymore ... go to the trouble to extract your opioids, kiddies.

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1: Am J Otol. 2000 Mar;21(2):188-91.Links
Profound hearing loss associated with hydrocodone/acetaminophen abuse.
Friedman RA, House JW, Luxford WM, Gherini S, Mills D.

House Ear Clinic, Inc., Los Angeles, CA 90057, USA.

OBJECTIVES: To describe profound hearing loss associated with hydrocodone overuse and the successful rehabilitation of these patients with cochlear implantation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: A tertiary otologic referral center. PATIENTS: Twelve patients with rapidly progressive hearing loss and a concurrent history of hydrocodone overuse. Interventions: Comprehensive medical histories, physical findings, audiometric tests, and, in those patients undergoing cochlear implantation, postimplantation performance data were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical characteristics of hydrocodone-related hearing loss and open set word and sentence performance in those patients undergoing cochlear implantation. RESULTS: Hydrocodone overuse was associated with rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss in 12 patients. In four patients the initial presentation was unilateral, and two of the patients experienced vestibular symptoms. None of the 12 patients experienced improved thresholds after high-dose prednisone. Seven of the eight patients undergoing cochlear implantation have demonstrated early success with their devices. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrocodone is frequently prescribed in combination with acetaminophen for the relief of pain and has a side effects profile similar to other medications in its class. Although not described previously, overuse or abuse can be associated with a rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss. These patients can be successfully rehabilitated with cochlear implantation.

PMID: 10733182 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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2: Pain Physician. 2007 May;10(3):467-72.Click here to read Links
Hydrocodone use and sensorineural hearing loss.
Ho T, Vrabec JT, Burton AW.

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.

BACKGROUND: The hydrocodone/acetaminophen combination is one of the most commonly used analgesic preparations. Isolated incidences of suspected association between hydrocodone abuse and rapidly progressive hearing loss have been reported. In this study, we describe the clinical characteristics of 5 patients presenting with progressive hearing loss and a history of hydrocodone use. METHODS: Patients presenting with rapidly progressive bilateral hearing loss who had a documented history of hydrocodone use were selected for the study. The presentation, audiologic findings, associated comorbidities, and treatment outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: All patients displayed rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss without vestibular symptoms. Hearing loss was asymmetric in 3 patients at initial presentation, but progressed to profound loss, usually within months. Steroid treatment has no effect on the progression of the hearing loss. The admitted quantity of hydrocodone consumed ranged from 10 to 300 mg per day. Hepatitis C was the most common comorbidity, present in 60% of the patients. All patients underwent cochlear implantation with satisfactory results. CONCLUSIONS: The chronic use of hydrocodone can be associated with progressive sensorineural hearing loss. Successful auditory rehabilitation can be achieved with cochlear implantation. Genetic polymorphisms of drug metabolizing enzymes as well as associated comorbidities such as hepatitis C infection may be significant in the development of hydrocodone ototoxicity, though additional investigations are necessary.

PMID: 17525781 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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