Can drugs cause hoarse voice and if so, what drugs can cause hoarseness?
In this video, I am answering these questions so stick around because we’ll start right
after this.
Hi!
I am Katarina, speech language pathologist from How 2 Improve Singing and here on this
channel, I share practical tips about using your voice in a healthy way.
So, if this is a topic that interests you, consider subscribing to this channel and hitting
that bell notification icon so that you don’t miss any of my videos.
Ok.
You’ve been experiencing hoarse voice and now you are wondering if your voice problems
can be caused by the medication that you’ve been taken.
Can drugs cause hoarse voice?
The answer is yes.
Some meds have known adverse effect on voice and speech and they can be both prescriptions
drugs or over-the-counter drugs.
You may be taking some of these drugs on a regular basis to manage a condition, illness
or disease, or you may take these drugs only occasionally, for example when you have pain
or cold.
There are several groups of drugs that cause hoarse voice but in this video, I am going
to tell you about three groups of very common drugs:
#1 Allergy Medication Allergy medications, such as Claritin, Benadryl
or Zyrtec, contain so called antihistamines and decongestants.
These medications basically calm your immune system’s reaction to allergens and they
also reduce the swelling by constricting the blood vessels in your nose, which helps to
open the airways.
However, they have a drying effect on the whole body, including the mucus covering the
vocal folds.
Mucus is a viscous substance, which has a protective function.
If you dry it up, the vocal folds are more prone to vocal injuries.
If possible, avoid using medications with a drying effect.
If you need to use them, increase the intake of water to make up for their drying effect.
#2 Asthma Medication Asthma is often controlled by inhalers that
contain steroids.
Steroids are a group of drugs that help manage inflammation.
However, voice problems as side effects of steroids use are well recognized.
These include hoarseness, a loss of voice and voice changes.
It is recommended to rinse your mouth with water after taking the medications to prevent
some side effects, but rinsing with water may not prevent hoarseness because the water
does not come in contact with the mucosa of the vocal folds.
If you have asthma and experience hoarseness, consult not only your respirologist but also
a voice specialist who can help you manage the asthma symptoms while decreasing the toll
on the voice.
However, never change your meds without consulting your health care professionals first.
#3 Pain Killers More specifically a group of drugs called
Non-steroid Anti-inflammatory Medications (NSAID for short).
Some examples of drugs are Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve or Naproxen.
Some singers and professional voice users believe that these medications reduce vocal
fold swelling and they even take them as a preventative measure before high demanding
performances.
It is true that these medications reduce swelling in joints and therefore reduce pain but they
also have an adverse effect on the voice.
These meds increase the risk of bleeding because they inhibit aggregation of platelets that
help blood clotting.
When bleeding starts, it takes longer for the bleeding to stop while taking this medication.
Prolonged bleeding on the vocal folds, for example from vocal trauma, can lead to inflammation,
scarring or even cysts forming and therefore can lead to hoarseness.
If you need to take aspirin, ibuprofen or other medications from this group, avoid sudden
and high impact on the vocal folds, such as yelling, coughing or grunting.
Also, avoid prolonged excessive voice use when taking these drugs.
The risk is small but there is a risk.
If you need to take pain medication for whatever reason, ask your doctor if you can take Tylenol
instead, which does not have this adverse effect.
There are other groups of drugs that have known effects on voice.
If you are not sure, talk to your pharmacist or doctor to make sure that the medications
you are taking are not contributing to your voice problems.
Bonus Tip Many cough drops, throat lozenges and sprays
are drying to the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and vocal folds.
Many of these products contain menthol and eucalyptus, which have a drying effect.
Some lozenges also have a numbing effect, which can mask the underlying problem making
you more prone to vocal injuries due to overworking your voice.
I made a video on this topic and you can watch it by clicking this link.
I know that it may be complicated or even frustrating to manage certain health problems
and keep your voice clear and healthy at the same time.
If you have a serious illness, the priority is to control the disease or illness, and
unfortunately, voice takes the second place.
But I also know that professional voice users who rely heavily on their voices perceive
even slight hoarseness very debilitating.
In cases like these, I encourage you to consult your doctor or even better a team of specialists.
Don’t be afraid to tell them that your voice pays the bills and you need a solution that
is least taxing on your voice.
And that is all for today.
I hope you found this video helpful, if so, give it thumbs up and check out my other videos
right here below.
I will see you in the next video.