Pharmacological Drugs Inducing Ototoxicity, Vestibular Symptoms and Tinnitus: a Reasoned and Updated Guide
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2011; 15: 601-636 Pharmacological drugs inducing ototoxicity, vestibular symptoms and tinnitus: a reasoned and updated guide G. CIANFRONE1, D. PENTANGELO1, F. CIANFRONE2, F. MAZZEI1, R. TURCHETTA1, M.P. ORLANDO1, G. ALTISSIMI1 1Department of Otolaryngology, Audiology and Phoniatrics, “Umberto I” University Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome (Italy); 2Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome (Italy) Abstract. – The present work on drug-in- Introduction duced ototoxicity, tinnitus and vertigo repre- sents the update and revision of a previous The panorama of the pharmacological origin guide to adverse drug reactions for italian physi- iatrogenic noxae able to induce either harmful cians (2005). The panorama of drug-induced side effects causing ototoxicity or symptoms ototoxic effects or just a symptomatology like tin- such as tinnitus or dizziness and vertigo has en- nitus or balance disturbances, without any harm- larged in recent years, thanks to a better knowl- ful consequence, has widened in the last few edge and a more specific attention of pharma- years. The reason for this is the progress of scien- ceutical firms and drug-control institutions. In tific knowledge, the increased awareness of the daily clinical practice, there is a need for the pharmaceutical companies and of the institutions, family physician and the ENT specialist or audi- ologist (also in consideration of the possible which supervise pharmaceutical production. medico-legal implications) to focus the attention Only through continuous updating and experi- on the possible risk of otological side effects. ence sharing it’s possible to offer patients the This would allow a clinical risk-benefit evalua- certainty of receiving the treatment that is appro- tion, weighing the possible clinical advantage in priate, safe and effective and based upon the their field of competence against possible oto- most credited clinical studies.
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