FDA Warns Viagra, Cialis and Levitra May Cause Sudden Hearing Loss

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ordered makers of the erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra to post prominent warnings on their labels of the possilbity they may cause sudden hearing loss. The FDA said it has received 29 reports of sudden hearing loss, both with and without accompanying ringing in the ears, vertigo, or dizziness following usage of the drugs. Most cases involved one ear, with either a partial or complete loss of usual hearing.

In approximately one third of cases, the event was temporary. “Although no causal relationship has been demonstrated, the strong relationship between the use of these drugs and sudden hearing loss in these cases warrants revisions to the product labeling for this drug class,” the FDA said in its release, which was accompanied by an excellent Q&A document. A surprisingly large number of drugs, including many chemotherapy drugs, are otoxic, meaning they can cause sudden hearing loss. The best overview of otoxic drugs I’ve seen is the book Otoxic Drugs Exposed by Neil Bauman, available on his web site.