Diclofenac induced sudden sensorineural hearing loss

A few cases of mild to moderate, gradual and reversible sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with prolonged doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been reported. We present a case of sudden irreversible SNHL in a 60-year-old female after taking a single dose of diclofenac. The patient was a known case of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and was on regular treatment. We postulate that the patient’s hearing loss was the result of diclofenac’s ototoxic effects which may have been potentiated as a result of her long standing diabetes, hypertension and old age. Accordingly, we recommend the cautious use of diclofenac in patients with underlying diseases where diclofenac induced ototoxicity could potentially result in adverse otologic consequences.