05/21/10

From WCBSTV NEW YAWK

Study: Viagra May Be Linked To Hearing Loss

Researcher At University Of Alabama-Birmingham Studies 11,000 Men Over The Age Of 40; Docs Urge Caution

Reporting
Tony Aiello

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. (CBS) ― It's the little blue pill that works wonders for the sex life. But does taking Viagra increase the risk of hearing loss?

A new study is raising concern about a troubling side effect from Viagra and similar drugs.

Hearing expert Dr. Scott Messenger has learned to ask men of a certain age a certain question when they report sudden hearing loss.

"We are now asking, are you taking any erectile dysfunction medication?" Messenger said.

Soon after Viagra hit the market in 1998 a handful of reports began to surface of men suffering from sudden hearing loss after taking Viagra.

Three years ago the Food & Drug Administration ordered the makers of Viagra and similar drugs to include a hearing loss warning on their lengthy patient information forms.

That's when a researcher from the University of Alabama-Birmingham decided to take a closer look. Click here to read the study.

He studied medical records of more than 11,000 men over the age of 40. Of those reporting hearing loss 3 percent had taken a drug for erectile dysfunction. But of those with "no" hearing loss only 1.4 percent had taken e-d drugs.

In other words, men who self-reported hearing loss were more than twice as likely to have used a type of erectile dysfunction medication in the past.

Is the slight risk of hearing loss enough to scare men off Viagra?

Many we spoke to today laughed at the idea. But aside from the inevitable joke almost everyone had an opinion.

"I don't think so, because if they need it, they're gonna try it whether they die or not," said Lydia Sanchez of Putnam County.

"Yeah, hearing is more important!" another person added.

"I can tell you that I don't think this is gonna be that big of a threat," added Gabe Savarese of Bergen County, N.J.

"I don't need it, thank God, but I wouldn't take it anyway," added another person.

The experts say Viagra remains safe, but if you take it and suffer hearing loss see your doctor right away.

The maker of Viagra said it is closely reviewing this study. New York-based Pfizer it found discrepancies in earlier research from the same doctor, linking Viagra to sudden blindness.

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