I have been worried about taking Cialis and the other PDE5 inhibitors because of the fear of retina side effects, or hearing side effects. I understand from my research that Cialis has the least chance of having retina side effects among the PDE5 inhibitors? Is this true among the medicines, Cialis, Viagra, Levitra and Stendra?
Do I have anything to worry about regarding my eyes from taking Cialis? I am a male, 57, and not on any drugs.
Also, how is Cialis regarding hearing side effects?
Thank you very much.
Randy
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You’re right that PDE5 inhibitors have been shown to increase risk of retinal damage. But my understanding is that this has been documented almost exclusively in men with diabetes, who are at high risk for retinal damage to begine with (Diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness.) I can’t tell you not to be concerned, but since Viagra was approved 18 years ago, millions of men have taken erection drugs. If the medications caused significant vision impairment in average healthy older men, this would have generated headlines and all sorts of warnings. But we haven’t seen anything like that. My suggestion: Discuss the matter with the physician who prescribed your Cialis.
You’re also correct that erection drugs have been linked to sudden hearing loss. These are largely case reports—a few among the millions of men using erection medications. The one small prospective clinical trial I found showed no statistically significant association between the drugs and hearing loss. But small studies don’t necessarily capture reality. Again, I don’t think there’s any cause for alarm. Talk to your prescribing physician.