Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2026

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors: A Systematic Review
Peyton Pinkus1, Soroush Farsi1, William D Strickland1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, United States.
Introduction:
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) can significantly impact quality of life. Recent studies propose a link between the use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5is) and SSNHL emergence.
Objective:
To clarify the relationship between PDE-5i use and the risk of SSNHL development.
Data Synthesis:
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, two independent reviewers searched the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles up to December 2023 on hearing loss in PDE-5i users. Out of 190 abstracts initially identified, 6 met the inclusion criteria, totaling 54 patients aged between 37 and 62 years. One study involved 4 female participants, while the rest focused on 50 male patients. Sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil were the most commonly used PDE-5is. All patients experienced sensorineural hearing loss, ranging from moderate to profound, with 4 patients (7%) noting tinnitus and 3 patients (5%), vertigo, in addition to the hearing loss. One patient experienced bilateral hearing loss 15 days after initiating sildenafil consumption. Corticosteroid therapy was the exclusive treatment in all cases. The long-term outcomes following the cessation of the medication were available in 7 cases: 4 patients (57%) had no improvement, 2 patients (29%) fully recovered, and 1 patient (14%) had incomplete resolution of the hearing loss.
Conclusion:
The current systematic review underscores the importance of monitoring hearing in PDE5i patients and advising them about the potential risk. Further research with larger samples and control groups is needed to establish a definitive causal link.
Related Concept Videos
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
Among the PDE5 inhibitors, sildenafil (Revatio) stands out as a competitive and selective inhibitor. It operates by elevating cellular levels of cGMP and augmenting signaling through the cGMP-PKG pathway, promoting vasodilation. Upon oral...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
Impact of Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Models: Regulatory Decisions
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis
Several...
