Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Recently starting or increasing the dosage of some medicines increases the chance that tinnitus will occur. The side effects caused by medicines vary from person to person.

Medicines that commonly cause tinnitus or make tinnitus worse include:

• ACE inhibitors, such as captopril (Capoten) and ramipril (Altace).
• Antibiotics, such as gentamicin, neomycin, and streptomycin.
• Antidepressant medicines, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline (for example, Pamelor).
• Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives).
• Blood pressure medicine, such as captopril (Capoten) and ramipril (Altace)
• Heart medicines, such as nifedipine, quinidine (for example, Quinaglute), propranolol (for example, Inderal), and verapamil.
• Local anesthetic agents, such as bupivacaine, lidocaine, and procaine.
• Medicines used to treat cancer, such as cisplatin or taxol.
• Medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease, such as levodopa.
• Radiation therapy to the head or neck.
• Vitamins or mineral supplements, such as niacin or vitamin A.
• Water pills (diuretics), such as bumetanide (Bumex) and furosemide (Lasix).