Treatment with an ototoxic drug

Tinnitus - Treatment with an ototoxic drug Factor

Ototoxic drugs are drugs that have an adverse effect on the acoustic nerve or the organs of hearing or balance.
All these drugs are taken as a course of treatment ie prescribed by a doctor as a specified dose to be taken over a number of days (or perhaps weeks).
The RMA has specified the following list of ototoxic drugs as being capable of causing tinnitus or sensorineural hearing loss:

• Amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, netilmicin, streptomycin, tobramycin and vancomycin. These drugs make up the aminoglycoside group of antibiotics. They are used to treat serious bacterial infections.
• Viomycin - this is a drug formerly used in the treatment of tuberculosis that was resistant to other agents. It was given only by deep intramuscular injection.
• Ethacrynic acid, bumetanide and frusemide - these are types of loop diuretics
• Cisplatin, 6-amino nicotinamide, misonidazole, Nitrogen Mustard, a-difluromethylornithine, vinblastine and vincristine - these are all drugs used to treat cancer.
• Erythromycin – this is one of the macrolide group of antibiotics.

Last reviewed for CCPS 10 June 2012.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [13075]

13658 there is some evidence that treatment with an ototoxic drug may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

13099 the veteran has undergone a course of treatment with an ototoxic drug from the list specified in the Statements of Principles within the year immediately before the clinical onset or worsening of the condition under consideration.

13101 the veteran underwent a course of treatment with an ototoxic drug from the list specified in the Statements of Principles within the year immediately before the clinical onset or worsening of the condition under consideration for an illness or injury which is identifiable.

13102  the veteran has established the causal connection between the treatment with an ototoxic drug and VEA service for the condition under consideration.

13100 for the identified illness or injury, the veteran underwent a course of treatment with an ototoxic drug from the list specified in the Statements of Principles within the year immediately before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

13103   the veteran has established the causal connection between the treatment with an ototoxic drug and VEA service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

30433  the veteran has established the causal connection between the treatment with an ototoxic drug and operational service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

30434  the veteran has established the causal connection between the treatment with an ototoxic drug and eligible service for the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

30432 for the identified illness or injury, the veteran underwent a course of treatment with an ototoxic drug from the list specified in the Statements of Principles within the year immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

13104   the veteran has established the causal connection between the treatment with an ototoxic drug and VEA service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

30435  the veteran has established the causal connection between the treatment with an ototoxic drug and operational service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

or

30436  the veteran has established the causal connection between the treatment with an ototoxic drug and eligible service for the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and operational service [30433]

13105  the identified illness or injury, for which the treatment with an ototoxic drug was undergone, is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [30434]

13106  the identified illness or injury, for which the treatment with an ototoxic drug was undergone, is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [30435]

13105  the identified illness or injury, for which the treatment with an ototoxic drug was undergone, is causally related to operational service.

30437 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury, for which the treatment with an ototoxic drug was undergone, is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [30436]

13106  the identified illness or injury, for which the treatment with an ototoxic drug was undergone, is causally related to eligible service.

30438 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury, for which the treatment with an ototoxic drug was undergone, is causally related.