Got a headache? Achy joints? A sore back? Think twice before regularly managing your pain with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. A recent study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and published in September in the American Journal of Epidemiology finds that women who take ibuprofen or acetaminophen more than twice a week are at a higher risk for hearing loss than those who do not. The risk is more pronounced in those who are under age 50.
The study also examined increased use of aspirin and hearing loss, but did not find a link between the two.
The study’s findings are comparable to those from a 2010 study that found a link between increased loss of hearing in men with the frequent use of analgesics.
The study on women found that the more frequently a woman took over the counter pain relieving medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen—also known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs—the more her risk of hearing loss increased.
According to information released by Brigham and Women’s Hospital:
The researchers prospectively examined the relationship between frequency of aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen use and risk of hearing loss among women in the Nurses’ Health Study II.
Data from 62,261 women ages 31 to 48 years at baseline was studied. The women were followed for 14 years, from 1995 to 2009. Ten thousand and twelve women self-reported hearing loss.
Compared with women who used ibuprofen less than once per week, those who used ibuprofen 2 to 3 days per week had a 13 percent increased risk for hearing loss, while women who used the medication 4 to 5 days per week had a 21 percent increased risk. For those who used ibuprofen six or more days per week, the increased risk was 24 percent.
Compared with women who used acetaminophen less than once per week, women who used acetaminophen 2 to 3 days per week had an 11 percent increased risk for hearing loss, while women taking the medicine 4 to 5 days per week had a 21 percent increased risk.
“Possible mechanisms might be that NSAIDs may reduce blood flow to the cochlea—the hearing organ—and impair its function,” said first study author Sharon G. Curhan, MD, BWH Channing Division of Network Medicine. “Acetaminophen may deplete factors that protect the cochlea from damage.”
If you are suffering from chronic pain, you should consult with your health care provider for ways to more effectively manage your pain. In some instances, such as when the pain becomes so intense that it interferes with daily activities, you can also visit an urgent care clinic for relief.