2022 Volume 68 Issue 4 Pages 273-278
We herein report a case of acute sensory deafness that occurred immediately after taking a privately imported phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor. A man in his 40s developed sensorineural hearing loss after using vardenafil purchased over the Internet. He received systemic prednisolone and discontinued vardenafil, which generally improved his hearing. Although it has been pointed out that phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are associated with deafness, this fact is not well known in Japan. It is easy to import phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor for personal use via the Internet. However, many counterfeit drugs of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor are distributed online, causing health hazards. We should always be alert for any medications that need to be discontinued.
