Drug-induced diseases in otolaryngology – causes, clinical signs, treatment

Introduction: In the daily practice of an otolaryngologist, we encounter cases where the symptoms are not the result of disease but result from pharmacotherapy. In the case of symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, or dizziness, polytherapy may be used as the basis for their occurrence, which, due to the lack of rationality in combining drugs, leads to symptoms that the patient and the doctor very often interpret as a new disease syndrome. Aim: The aim of the study is to show and to raise awareness of the fact that the symptoms of hearing organ impairment are frequently drug-related and only a modification of the currently used pharmacotherapy is a rational procedure in such cases. Material: This paper describes 30 cases who developed side effects of polypharmacy in the form of hearing disorders, dizziness, and tinnitus. The causes of drug-related complications were discussed, as well as effective methods of their prevention.