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Viagra Class Action Lawsuits Information
Viagra impotence pill was FDA approved in March 1998 as the
first oral pill to treat the male dysfunction affecting millions of men in the
U.S. In May 1998, Pfizer issued a "Dear Doctor" letter warning of the large and
sudden drops in systemic blood pressure occurring in the majority of patients
taking Viagra. Doctors were advised to consider the cardiac status of patients
that were being prescribed Viagra.
In November 1998, the FDA and Pfizer advised doctors that Viagra labeling would
contain new warnings and information in the product labeling for Viagra in
response to postmarketing reports of serious adverse events. The new Viagra
labeling warned of cardiac effects, such as heart attacks, sudden cardiac
deaths, and hypertension that had occurred in Viagra patients. In addition, men
were reporting instances of priapism, or painful, prolonged erections, a serious
condition requiring immediate medical attention.
Viagra Side Effects
According to popular erectile dysfunction drug maker, Pfizer,
its well-known prescription drug has been taken by about 23 million men
worldwide since its 1998 FDA approval. Viagra, and other drugs like it, work by
slightly dialating arteries so that blood flow in the penis will increase. A
blockbuster drug, Viagra has allowed the treatment of erectile dysfunction to
emerge from a once seldom talked about problem to the $2 billion market it now
resides in.
Still, despite the well-known brand name and rise to popularity, Viagra side
effects have been present from the start and might be part of the reason why it
suffered an 11 percent decrease in revenue from 2003 to 2004. Viagra warns that
men who take nitrate-containing drugs, due to the interaction that could cause
Viagra side effects including deadly drops in blood pressure, should avoid its
drug use. The drug is also not to be used by men with heart conditions whose
doctors have warned that sex itself could be too much exertion.
Viagra side effects also warn about temporary vision changes- seeing bluish
tinges or having difficulty distinguishing between green and blue. The Viagra
side effects are different then the latest reports of blindness that has
occurred among 38 users of the drug. Called NAION, or non-arteritic anterior
ischemic optic neuropathy, the possible Viagra side effects have not yet been
attributed to the use of the drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
issued warnings about the possible Viagra side effects, and Pfizer is
considering changing the warning label.
Although the possible Viagra side effects have occurred in just a small
percentage of men taking the drug, some experts are worried that the
significance of the reports will be minimized. Most reports of NAION in men who
had recently used an erectile dysfunction drug have occurred in Viagra patients,
though four recent reports have been associated to similar drug Cialis and one
case with Levitra. Pfizer argues NAION would randomly happen among older men who
have a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or high
cholesterol - the same conditions leading to sexual dysfunction - so the Viagra
side effects are the result of coincidence.
While the FDA is taking a closer look at the possible Viagra side effects, the
makers of Cialis have already changed their drug labeling. Since the reported
Viagra side effects may be more prone to occurring among users already at risk
for suffering NAION, patients concerned with suffering blindness should discuss
their treatment options with their individual doctors.
More Viagra Information
According to Pfizer Inc., since its erectile dysfunction drug
Viagra was approved in 1998, 23 million men around the world have used the drug.
Despite the drug's popularity and well-branded name, the FDA announced it had
received reports of partial vision loss in some men who had used Viagra. At the
time of the FDA announcement, 42 reports of a type of vision loss called
nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) were made in men using
drugs for erectile dysfunction - 38 of these occurred in men who took Viagra.
Caused by poor blood flow to the optic nerve, NAION usually affects one eye, and
the vision loss that results can be temporary or permanent. It is not yet known
if Viagra is directly linked to NAION since the vision loss and erectile
dysfunction both have share many of the same risks factors. Men over the age of
50 who have health problems like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or
high cholesterol often take Viagra for erectile dysfunction, and these risk
factors are associated to NAION as well.
Pfizer said in a press release that there was no evidence showing men who use
Viagra are more likely to develop NAION than men of similar age and health who
do not take Viagra, but the FDA is still reviewing the reports and is in talks
with the company about revising Viagra labeling. Although many experts believe
the Viagra risks are not strong enough to warrant a future recall, the news that
Pfizer had been in discussion with the FDA was enough to send investors
scrambling and the company's stock to fall.
Viagra is one of Pfizer's most recognized drug brands, but the announcement of
possible additional Viagra risks will probably injure the company's reputation
more than its financial standing. The links to cases of blindness among Viagra
users is just one more blow to the company who has faced accusations that its
$3.4 billion a year antidepressant drug Zoloft was connected to suicide in
children and teens in 2004, and then in April 2005, the company recalled its
arthritis drug Bextra after a link to heart failure in some patients and a rare,
potentially deadly skin reaction was discovered.
Viagra brought in $1.7 billion in 2004, which was down 11 percent from 2003.
Compared to Pfizer's biggest money making drug, cholesterol-lowering Lipitor,
Viagra's $1.7 billion is meager to the $10.9 billion in revenue the top selling
drug brings in to the company.
Even before the latest Viagra announcement was made, the drug was known to cause
some abnormal vision, including some blurriness and a bluish tint. Until more
conclusive statements about the cases of temporary blindness or partial vision
loss in men taking Viagra has been made, patients with a history of NAION in one
eye especially should be cautioned that use of Viagra could increase risk of
NAION in the other eye.
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