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question

Can a low dose of aspirin cause tinnitus?

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
Internal Medicine
answer
In a word, no.

In the body, aspirin gets converted into a chemical called salicylic acid, so the side effect that the label is referring to is sometimes called salicylism, or more simply, aspirin poisoning. Very high levels of aspirin in the blood can have toxic effects. Tinnitus—a ringing or whistling noise in the ear—and hearing loss are among them. But there's no risk of that happening at a low dose.

People have been taking aspirin for more than a century, and I think it's still the most widely used medicine. Like you, many people take small doses daily for cardiovascular health. But large doses used to be prescribed much more often, partly because we didn't have nearly as many other medications to choose from. Doctors have also learned that many drugs, including aspirin, work just as well at lower doses as at higher ones, and—no surprise—lower doses are often associated with fewer side effects.

Aspirin for rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory condition that damages joints, is an example of what I am talking about. Today, if someone with rheumatoid arthritis is treated with medication, there are several choices among the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs. But when I was in medical school, aspirin doses of 1,500 milligrams (mg) a day or more were often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis. Taking that much aspirin on a daily basis can have toxic effects, including tinnitus, and I saw cases of salicylism early in my medical career.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.