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A new link has been established between the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra® and hearing loss, according to the results of a large study, published in the May 18, 2010, issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.

Although a relationship between the drug and deafness has been reported before, this was the first epidemiologic research to make the connection. Epidemiology is the study of factors that affect the health of certain groups of people.

The results of the study showed that twice as many men who were taking Viagra® or similar drugs were likely to experience hearing loss as men not taking the drugs. The study, however, did not determine a cause and effect relationship. It is for this reason further research is needed.

The study included:

• 11,525 men
• 40 years of age or older

It was conducted by professor of epidemiology Gerald McGwin at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. The large number of men studied adds credibility to the results.

McGwin has been quoted as saying, “PDE-5i medications work in ED patients by their ability to increase blood flow to certain tissues in the body. It has been hypothesized that they may have a similar effect on similar tissues in the ear, where an increase of blood flow could potentially cause damage leading to hearing loss.”

FDA Mandates Labeling Changes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007 required the drug’s manufacturer to make changes in the label on Viagra® to display the association between the drug and hearing loss more prominently. Viagra® is in a class of medications called PDE-5i drugs. Cialis® and Levitra® are also in this class of drugs.

“It appears from these findings,” McGwin said, “that the current government warning regarding hearing loss and the use of PDE-5I medications is warranted.”

These drugs were first used to treat high pulmonary hypertension, a condition of high blood pressure in the vessels supplying blood to the lungs. This situation is stressful to the heart, requiring it to pump harder than it normally has to.

Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra®, was receiving reports from patients that the drug was reducing erectile dysfunction. The drug maker was conducting studies of the medication between 1986 and 1990 when these reports started to come in.

Then, in 1993, Pfizer began clinical trials to test Viagra®’s ability to correct erectile dysfunction. The FDA approved Viagra® for this use and in 1998 it was introduced to the market. During the first three months after it became available, pharmacies dispensed 2,900,000 prescriptions for Viagra®.

Have You Been Affected by Viagra® Hearing Loss?

If you’ve suffered a loss of hearing and have a history of taking Viagra®, you may be eligible to seek compensation for the damages incurred. For more information, contact our Viagra® lawyers today for experienced and aggressive representation.

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