Viagra

The Nature of the Drug: Viagra (sildenafil citrate) was originally developed by Pfizer as a treatment for chest pain (angina) and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Clinical trials showed that the drug was not very effective for those problems; but Pfizer found that it did work for erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra has been one of Pfizer’s most popular drugs, and is now the number-one ED treatment in the United States. Erectile dysfunction affects 40% of men over forty to some extent and 70% of men over seventy. Viagra is the most famous drug in the class called PED inhibitors, which act on an enzyme that dilates blood vessels and thereby enhance blood flow.

viagra

The Hazards of Viagra: There is evidence of a connection between Viagra and melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. A 2014 article in The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that participants using Viagra had an 84% greater risk of melanoma than did members of a control group. Even short-term Viagra use appears to increase melanoma risk. The disease has a high survival rate when caught early, but at Stage IV which is the final stage, survival is only 15%–20%.

Some of the earliest legal claims over Viagra concerned cardiac effects: the drug can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, leading to heart attack or stroke.

Hearing and vision problems have also been reported, and at least one lawsuit has linked sudden hearing loss to Viagra use. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Viagra also increases risk of Non-Arteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), an eye condition that develops when blood flow to the optic nerve is blocked, causing reduced vision or blindness.

Many Viagra users have filed lawsuits against Pfizer over those side effects.

To Obtain Legal Relief: If you were diagnosed with melanoma, the vision disease NAION, or some other malady while taking Viagra, you may have valuable legal rights. Attorney Stephen A. Katz is available at (800) 251-3529 for a free consultation, or for legal representation.