Viagra deafness-Sensorineural hearing loss and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.

Laryngoscope. 2011 May;121(5):1049-54. doi: 10.1002/lary.21450.
Viagra deafness-Sensorineural hearing loss and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.
Khan AS, Sheikh Z, Khan S, Dwivedi R, Benjamin E.
SourceEar, Nose and Throat Department , Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom. afroze.khan@hs.net.

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Viagra and PDE-5 inhibitors use has mushroomed since its launch over a decade ago. A growing body of evidence indicates significant morbidity associated with the side effect profile of this class of drug. Hearing loss associated with PDE-5 inhibitor use has recently been reported, but few studies have evaluated the causal link.

AIM: To review and scrutinise the current literature on the subject and propose possible physiologic mechanisms and to investigate the global reporting of this side effect.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Pharmacovigilance agencies around North America, Europe, and Australasia were contacted requesting reports of hearing loss associated with PDE-5 inhibitors. Reports were scrutinised to exclude those where others causes of hearing loss existed.

RESULTS: Forty-seven cases of sensorineural hearing loss with a temporal association with PDE-5 inhibitor ingestion were obtained from both published literature and pharmacovigilance agencies. Cases had a mean age 56.6 years, male-to-female ratio of 7:1. Eighty-eight percent of reports were unilateral with an even left/right distribution. Hearing loss occurred within 24 hours of ingestion of PDE-5 inhibitor in 66.7% (n = 18) of cases. Sildenafil accounted for over 50% of cases.

CONCLUSION: There is increasing evidence that PDE-5 inhibitors may induce sensorineural hearing loss via plausible physiological mechanisms. There needs to be more awareness of this disabling side effect among healthcare professionals responsible for prescribing this drug.

Copyright © 2011 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.

PMID:21520123[PubMed - in process] LinkOut - more resourcesFull Text SourcesJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.Swets Information Services
http://www.ntkinstitute.org/news/content.nsf/PaperFrameSet?OpenForm&pp=1&id=4A44BFD745C99B7D852573120077417E&refid=3551&specid=999&newsid=852576140048867C8525788000300899&locref=ntkwatch&u=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=21520123