|
Could Your Medication Be
Affecting Your Voice?
Some medications including
prescription,
over-the-counter, and
herbal supplements can
affect the function of
your voice. If your doctor
prescribes a medication
that adversely affects
your voice, make sure the
benefit of taking the
medicine outweighs the
problems with your voice.
Most medications affect
the voice by drying out
the protective mucosal
layer covering the vocal
cords. Vocal cords must be
well-lubricated to operate
properly; if the mucosa
becomes dry, speech will
be more difficult. This is
why hydration is an
important component of
vocal health.
Medications can also
affect the voice by
thinning blood in the
body, which makes bruising
or hemorrhaging of the
vocal cord more likely if
trauma occurs, and by
causing fluid retention
(edema), which enlarges
the vocal cords.
Medications from the
following groups can
adversely affect the
voice:
-
-
-
-
Antihypertensives
(blood pressure
medication)
-
Antihistamines
(allergy medications)
-
Anticholinergics
(asthma medications)
-
High-dose Vitamin C
(greater than five
grams per day)
Other medications and
associated conditions that
may affect the voice
include:
-
Angiotensin-converting-enzyme
(ACE) inhibitors
(blood pressure
medication) may induce
a cough or excessive
throat clearing in as
many as 10 percent of
patients. Coughing or
excessive throat
clearing can
contribute to vocal
cord lesions.
-
Oral contraceptives
may cause fluid
retention (edema) in
the vocal cords
because they contain
estrogen.
-
Estrogen replacement
therapy post-menopause
may have a variable
effect.
-
An inadequate level of
thyroid replacement
medication in patients
with hypothyroidism.
-
Anticoagulants (blood
thinners) may increase
chances of vocal cord
hemorrhage or polyp
formation in response
to trauma.
Herbal medications are not
harmless and should be
taken with caution. Many
have unknown side effects
that include voice
disturbance.
NOTE:
Contents of this fact
sheet are based on
information provided by
The Center
for Voice at Northwestern
University.
Material provided courtesy of the
American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery
|
