Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis May Lead to Hearing Loss

October 2007

An important message for erectile dysfunction (ED) patients: taking Viagra, Levitra, or Cialis may cause serious hearing loss. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that a class of drugs most commonly used to treat impotence will receive label changes alerting patients and doctors that some people may suffer loss of hearing due to use of the medications.

The labeling change comes after the FDA investigated the claim that Viagra caused a man to suddenly lose his hearing. After researching their own records on ED medicine, the FDA found at least 29 different reports of temporary and long-term hearing loss due to PDE5 inhibitors, a class of drugs including Viagra.

Reports of hearing loss typically occurred in only one ear, with one-third of the patients suffering temporary effects. Ringing in the ears, vertigo, and dizziness are other side effects that will be included in updated medication warning. The labeling change also affects the heart drug, Revatio, which is a PDE5 inhibitor too.