Which of the following is a common medication known to be ototoxic?

• A. Benadryl
• B. cough syrup
• C. Ibuprofen
• D. melatonin

Answer: (C)

Ototoxicity happens when a drug damages the inner ear, leading to changes in hearing or ringing in the ears. Among commonly used meds, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can cause temporary, reversible changes in hearing and tinnitus when taken at high doses or for a long period. The likely idea is that blocking prostaglandin synthesis in the inner ear may alter cochlear blood flow or affect outer hair cell function, which can briefly shift hearing thresholds, especially at higher frequencies. This kind of effect is not typically seen with the other listed drugs in normal use: an antihistamine like diphenhydramine isn’t known to damage the ear, standard cough syrups aren’t associated with ototoxicity in typical doses, and melatonin doesn’t have a recognized ototoxic profile. So the medication that’s commonly linked to ototoxic effects in everyday practice is ibuprofen.