If you take Viagra or another similar medication for erectile dysfunction, be aware that you have a "small but significant" risk of developing an emergency hearing condition known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Erectile dysfunction drugs and hearing loss

Any of the dozen or so drugs that belong to the class of medications known as PDE-5-inhibitors are linked to sudden hearing loss. The more common ones include Viagra (generic: sildenafil), Cialis and Levitra. Some researchers have dubbed this "Viagra deafness."

In the research that has been done on this problem, hearing loss typically occurs in one ear only and within one day of taking one of these drugs. About a third of the time, the hearing loss is temporary.

The evidence for 'Viagra deafness'

One of the first alarm bells was a 2007 case report, published in The Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, about a man who experienced sudden hearing loss in both ears after taking Viagra. That prompted the FDA to monitor for similar cases of men experiencing sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, sometimes accompanied by tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears, after taking one of these drugs. 

Then, larger studies found a similar link. In one study, men who reported use of PDE-5i medications were twice as likely to also report hearing loss as were men who had not used the drugs. However, the study could not prove cause and effect. And in 2018, an analysis of the medical records of close to 378,000 adult men found a "small but significantly increased risk of sudden hearing loss."

FDA warning

The earlier findings prompted the Federal Drug Administration to send out a new warning, and more information was added to drug labels. For example, the patient label for Viagra includes the following: "Sudden loss or decrease in hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness, has been rarely reported in people taking PDE5 inhibitors, including Viagra. It is not possible to determine whether these events are related directly to the PDE5 inhibitors, to other diseases or medications, to other factors, or to a combination of factors. If you experience these symptoms, stop taking Viagra and contact a doctor right away."

More: Which drugs cause hearing loss?

What are the symptoms of sudden hearing loss?

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders defines sudden sensorineural hearing loss as an unexplained, rapid loss of hearing either all at once or over a few days.

Other uses for PDE-5-inhibitors such as Viagra

This class of drugs is also used to treat pulmonary hypertension, which is increased blood pressure in the lung arteries.

Other side effects

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra and any durgs in this class also can cause vision problems, headaches and upset stomach, among other side effects.

Seek help right away

Sudden hearing loss is considered a medical emergency—do not delay treatment. It is important to tell your treating physician that you take a medication linked to sudden hearing loss. 

If you have erectile dysfunction and are prescribed one of these drugs, be sure to talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks associated with the use of a PDE-5i.

And become your own best advocate for healthy hearing by discussing any hearing loss you think you might be experiencing with a hearing healthcare professional.