Viagra and other impotence treatments have recently been associated with a sudden loss of hearing. Cases have been reported in the US and the UK. Scientists and health experts called for an intercontinental investigation in order to find out how soon after taking the pills that the hearing loss was experienced and the results are published in The Laryngoscope.
Of those who participated across the US, East Asia and Australia only 47 cases (suspected to be related to Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors) of sudden deafness in one ear or both ears were reported. 8 of these cases were reported in the UK.
223 reports that were filed in the US had to be discarded due to a lack of detail. So far no one can fathom a link between the taking of Viagra and the loss of hearing but researchers are suggesting that it may occur due to a series of chemical reactions that affect the inner ear.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has said that cases like this are very rare and it is impossible to prove from such a small number of people affected that the deafness had anything to do with the Viagra or other impotence treatments.