A Texas Viagra melanoma cancer lawsuit may be an option for men who were diagnosed with melanoma after taking the prescription drug to treat erectile dysfunction. The popular medication Viagra is most commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction. Despite the drug’s popularity, Viagra may be associated with an increased risk of melanoma, a sometimes fatal form of skin cancer. Affected men and their families could be eligible to pursue a claim with the help of a Texas Viagra melanoma cancer lawyer and pursue compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Texas 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?
Sildenafil citrate, commonly known by the brand name Viagra, is a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor most often used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), a problem in which a man cannot get and maintain an erection long enough to satisfactorily have sexual intercourse.
Viagra works by inhibiting the secretion of PDE5, an enzyme that can prevent the flow of blood to the corpus cavernosum in the penis. When PDE5 is inhibited, smooth muscles in the penis relax, allowing a man to get an erection.
Viagra and Melanoma Studies
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 10,130 people will die from melanoma in 2016. Of those, an estimated 6,750 will be men. While melanoma accounts for less than one percent of all skin cancer cases, it is the leading cause of skin cancer deaths.
In 2011, a study published in the medical journal Cancer Cell indicates that the downregulation of PDE5 (the main action of Viagra) may induce and promote the creation of melanoma cells. Based on the results of the study, Viagra imitates the effect of gene activation and could potentially function as a trigger for the creation of melanoma cells.
According to the results of a decade-long study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers found that sildenafil (Viagra) may be associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma. In the study, researchers analyzed 25,848 men who participated in the Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study and were questioned about their use of Viagra for erectile dysfunction. The study notes that men with a history of Viagra use were almost twice as likely to develop melanoma compared to participants who reported no use. Additionally, men who were currently taking Viagra were at an 84 percent increased risk for developing melanoma.
Viagra Side Effects
The most common side effects of Viagra include:
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Flushing
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Back pain
- Muscle pain
- Abnormal vision
- Nausea
Other Viagra Risks
Serious side effects and risks associated with the use of Viagra to treat ED include:
- A prolonged, painful erection lasting longer than four hours (this condition is called priapism)
- Abrupt vision loss in one or both eyes (could be signs of a condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy)
- Sudden hearing loss or decrease in hearing
- Heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, and death (most men who experienced these side effects had preexisting heart conditions)
Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawsuits
Pfizer Inc., the maker of Viagra, faces several lawsuits regarding the drug’s relationship with the increased risk of developing melanoma. According to Viagra melanoma cancer lawsuits, Pfizer Inc. failed to communicate to the general public that the inhibition of PDE5 (the mechanism of action in Viagra) would present a possible risk of a patient’s development of melanoma cells.
Lawsuits claim that the maker of Viagra purposefully downplayed, understood, and outright ignored the melanoma-related dangers and increased risks related to the use of Viagra. Additionally, lawsuits allege that Pfizer deceived potential users by relaying positive information about the drug while minimizing the known adverse health risks.
How a Texas Viagra Melanoma Cancer Lawsuit 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 Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Texas. 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.
