Sudden hearing loss from PDE‐5 inhibitors: A possible cellular stress etiology

Abstract

Although the data are inconclusive, there is a potential link between PDE-5 inhibitor use and SSHL. Otolaryngologists should, therefore, inquire regarding PDE-5 inhibitor use as a potential cause of SSHL. Although there is currently no direct evidence for a mechanism of this side effect, we postulate that it is related to the prolonged effects of intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) within the cochlea.