An Arkansas Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer may be able to help men who were diagnosed with skin cancer after taking the medication. Men who take Viagra to treat erectile dysfunction may discover that the medication also increases their risk of developing melanoma, a serious, sometimes life-threatening form of skin cancer. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation for their injuries with the help of an Arkansas Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Arkansas today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Viagra and How Does It Work?
Viagra, one of the most recognized prescription drugs in the United States, is most often used to treat men who suffer from impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED). Viagra works by increasing blood flow to the penis to help men get and keep an erection. The drug’s primary mechanism of action treats ED by inhibiting the secretion of an enzyme responsible for prohibiting blood flow to the penis.
Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, is also available under other brand names to treat high blood pressure in the lungs known as pulmonary hypertension.
Viagra Side Effects
Common side effects of Viagra include dizziness, headache, flushing, or upset stomach. Vision changes, including an increased sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or difficulty telling the difference between blue and green colors may also occur.
Viagra and Melanoma
According to an article published in June 2014, almost 26,000 men participated in a study that sought to evaluate the association between sildenafil (Viagra) and a potential risk of melanoma among men in the United States. Researchers indicated that Viagra may increase the risk of melanoma, noting that Viagra users were more likely to receive a melanoma diagnosis than men who never took the medication.
According to the American Cancer Society, 75,000 new diagnoses of melanoma are expected to occur in 2016, and over 10,000 people are expected to die from the cancer. Common treatment options may involve surgery, radiation, medications, or chemotherapy.
Other Viagra Risks
Sexual activity can put a strain on the heart. If patients experience severe dizziness, fainting, chest/jaw/left arm pain, or nausea while engaged in sexual activity, medical attention should be sought immediately.
In rare cases, a sudden decrease in vision or complete blindness may occur. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has known about this condition, called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), for over ten years and updated labeling for Viagra has reflected that knowledge. Patients have a slightly greater risk of developing NAION if they have heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, other eye problems, or high blood pressure. Men over 50 and smokers are at a high risk as well.
Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawsuits
Several Viagra melanoma cancer lawsuits have been filed, including a lawsuit filed in New York in April 2016. The lawsuit alleges that Pfizer, Inc., maker of Viagra, failed to use due care in designing, testing, and manufacturing Viagra and that the drug maker knew of the significant risks of developing melanoma potentially caused by taking Viagra. Despite knowledge regarding the risks associated with the drug, Pfizer continued to manufacture, sell, and promote Viagra without adequately warning of the serious health risks involved.
According to the lawsuit, Pfizer, Inc. omitted information found in studies linking the mechanism of action in Viagra to cell mutation which cultivates the creation of melanocytes which develop into melanoma. Although the makers of Viagra were aware of these studies, they continued to produce and aggressively promote the medication when they knew, or should have known, of the increased risk of developing melanoma and exacerbating melanoma related to Viagra use.
How an Arkansas Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawyer Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Arkansas. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
