A Georgia Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer may be able to help men who were diagnosed with melanoma after taking the drug. Sildenafil, most commonly known as Viagra, is a well-known drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Despite the drug’s widespread use, Viagra has been linked to an increased risk of melanoma. With the help of a Georgia Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer, affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a lawsuit and seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Georgia 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?
Viagra is the trademark name for sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient used to treat symptoms associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), impotence, and in some cases, pulmonary hypertension. Viagra belongs to a class of medications known as PDE5 inhibitors, which relax muscles located in the blood vessels and increase blood flow to the penis.
Viagra and Melanoma Studies
In a study published by the JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers suggest that men who use Viagra to treat ED and impotence are at an increased risk of developing melanoma, a serious and sometimes deadly form of skin cancer. Researchers examined and analyzed data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, a study that began in 1986 and is funded by the National Cancer Institute. Hundreds of peer-reviewed papers have been produced using information from the long-term study, including articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In this particular examination, participants were asked whether they used Viagra to treat ED and whether they previously or currently had any types of cancer. Nearly 26,000 men were included in the study, and between 2000 and 2010, those participants answered questionnaires regarding their lifestyles and health conditions. Based on the results, researchers found that the use of Viagra was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma.
Viagra Side Effects
Many medications may cause side effects. The most common side effects related to the use of Viagra include:
- Flushing
- Headache
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Sleepiness
- Muscle aches or pains
- Dizziness
Other Viagra Risks
In addition to less severe side effects and risks of Viagra, there are some dangerous risks associated with the use of medication as well. Those risks include:
- Chest pains, irregular heartbeat, or shortness of breath during or following sexual activity
- Prolonged or painful erection of the penis lasting for more than four hours
- Seizures
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, including rash; itching; shortness of breath; and swollen face, lips, or throat
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden loss of hearing or a decrease in hearing
Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawsuits
There are a number of Viagra melanoma cancer lawsuits pending against the maker of the drug, Pfizer, Inc. Because many of these lawsuits involve similar allegations concerning the relationship between Viagra and the increased risk of melanoma, several plaintiffs moved to centralize or consolidate litigation in the Northern District of California.
Lawsuits filed in 2015 and 2016 allege that the drug maker failed to adequately warn consumers and health care providers of the alleged risks associated with the drug, specifically the increased risk of melanoma. Most, if not all, of the claims presented in these lawsuits use published studies to support their claims, including the 2014 study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine.
Among other claims, a lawsuit filed in May 2016 alleges that, as a result of the defective nature of Viagra, the plaintiff suffered injuries that are permanent and lasting in nature, physical pain and mental anguish, and the need for lifelong medical treatment. Likewise, the plaintiff claims to have suffered severe emotional distress as well.
How a Georgia 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.
The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.Get Help Now.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Georgia. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
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.
