Viagra was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 to treat erectile dysfunction. It was the first oral treatment for this issue and was wildly popular form the start. Pfizer, the maker of the drug, makes billions of dollars selling it. The medication in Viagra is called sildenafil, and it can also be used to treat high blood pressure.

Although millions of men found Viagra to be life-changing, as an easy and quick way to cope with impotence, too many have also been harmed by the drug. Side effects that are more common are typically not serious, like back pain and nausea, but more recently there is evidence that Viagra may cause melanoma, a deadly type of skin cancer, as well as other serious problems. Viagra lawsuits have increased since this new information came out and several men blame their cancer on this medication.

Pfizer and Viagra

Pfizer hit the jackpot when it created Viagra. There was a major market for a quick and easy solution to erectile dysfunction, especially for older men. Sildenafil is the generic name for the medication, and under brand name Revatio, is used to treat a certain type of high blood pressure called pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Since it came on the market as Viagra, sildenafil has been a blockbuster drug. In just a single year, 2013, Pfizer took in more than $2 billion in revenue from Viagra sales. Between the ages of 40 and 70 about ten percent of men experience erectile dysfunction, which means that Pfizer had a huge market to hit with its drug, which was new in 1998. Sildenafil works by acting on enzymes that cause blood vessels to dilate, or get wider. This allows for better blood flow to treat the symptoms of both erectile dysfunction and hypertension.

Viagra Side Effects and Lawsuits

The story of Viagra has not been all about great sales and satisfied customers. As with any drugs there are side effects. Some of the more common of these are flushing, headaches, skin rashes, nasal congestion, vision problems, muscle pain, back pain, nausea, indigestion, and dizziness. Most of these are not serious, but there are some side effects that are less common and more harmful.

One of these is vision loss. Some men may experience a little bit of vision trouble, but a few may experience sudden vision loss, which is both frightening and damaging. The condition is known as non-areteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. It occurs because of restricted blood flow to the optic nerve. This sudden loss of vision is usually noticeable first thing in the morning.

Why Viagra can cause this condition in rare cases is not known, and although it is not common and can be completely devastating for the patient. Treatment for this kind of vision loss is not straightforward. Some men who experience it will never recover their vision, a reason some may use to sue Pfizer. If a man did not feel adequately warned about such a serious risk, he may be able to make a good case and recover compensation.

Melanoma

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and dangerous types of skin cancer. It can be treated successfully and fairly easily, but only if it is caught early enough. This type of cancer is considered aggressive because it metastasizes quickly. In other words, it spreads to other parts of the body. Stage IV melanoma has low survival rates, only around 15 percent.

It has only been recently that evidence has come to light connecting Viagra to melanoma, which means that many people who chose to take the drug were never warned of this possible risk. That fact and the devastation that can come from getting a melanoma diagnosis have led to most of the lawsuits against Viagra and Pfizer.

And the men making these cases have evidence beyond their own personal experiences. A study from 2014 found that men who had been taking sildenafil for at least ten years had a definite increased risk for developing melanoma. The study included a large group of 25,000 participants. The risk for men taking the drug for ten years was doubled compared to those who had never taken it. For those who had taken sildenafil less than the risk was still increased compared to the control group.

The research is still early and no one can yet say why there is a connection between Viagra and melanoma, only that there is one. For men who did not know of the risk the results can be devastating. If they had known about it, they may have taken more precautions when it came to being in the sun or checking for early signs of melanoma.

Lawsuits

The connection to melanoma has only been made recently, so there are only a few Viagra lawsuits. That number is expected to grow and more information is circulated and discovered about Viagra and melanoma. Two early cases include those started by men from Alabama who believe that using Viagra caused them to develop skin cancer. One man stated in his lawsuit that he started taking Viagra in 2008, continued using it through 2012, and was diagnosed with melanoma in 2013. The second man has a similar story and was taking Viagra for five years before getting his melanoma diagnosis.

Both men are claiming that Pfizer was negligent in designing, developing, manufacturing, and selling a drug that caused them direct and serious harm. Pfizer denies all claims and says that it tested Viagra correctly and adequately and found no evidence that it may cause melanoma. The company also says that the 2014 study cannot be relied upon because it does not prove that Viagra was the cause of the melanoma.

Reasons to File a Viagra Lawsuit

Whether you took Viagra and ended up with melanoma or lost your vision, you may have a good reason to sue Pfizer. If you were not warned of the serious risks you faced in taking the drug, a case may be made that the company was negligent. Winning a case could mean getting compensation for medical expenses, for pain and suffering, for loss of relationships, or for lost wages and more. If you think you may have a case, speak with a lawyer about your options and about how to get started.