While relatively few drugs exist to treat tinnitus, there are over two hundred drugs which might cause tinnitus as a side effect of use. The technical term for medications which are known to cause tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears, is ototoxic. These medications are damaging to the cochlear or vestibular ear structures. Sometimes ototoxic meds will cause more than tinnitus – dizziness, vertigo, and actual hearing loss are also risks involved with taking these medications.