Viagra Lawsuit

A Brief Guide to Filing a Viagra Lawsuit:

Since the United States Drug Administration approved its use to treat erectile dysfunction in 1998, Viagra has been a popular and best-selling prescription medication. Although some serious Viagra side effects have been reported, successful Viagra lawsuits have not been achieved. As a result, it is unlikely for Viagra users to file a successful Viagra lawsuit. Now, this is not to say that Viagra side effects are not severe or likely to occur, because they are. It simply means that Pfizer—the creator of Viagra—adequately warns consumers of Viagra side effects. Regardless of the ability to procure compensation, one must be aware to the following Viagra side effects:

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, may cause the following side effects (please contact your doctor if any of the following Viagra side effects are persistent or severe):

• Headache

• Heartburn

• Diarrhea

• Muscle Aches

• Difficulty Falling asleep

• Changes in Color Vision

• Burning, numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, legs or arms

Some Viagra side effects are classified as severe. If you experience the following symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately:

• Blurred vision is regarded as a severe Viagra side effect

• Sudden decrease or loss of hearing are Serious Viagra side effects

• Painful erection that lasts longer than 4 hours is a somewhat common and severe Viagra side effect

• Chest Pain

• Fainting

• Burning or Itching during urination are common Viagra side effects

Viagra FDA Regulations:

The United States Food and Drug Administration, in 2007, received several reports of cases of sudden decreases or loss of hearing following the use of PDE5 inhibitors, such as Cialis, Levitra and Viagra, for treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Viagra Lawsuit History:

The first notable Viagra lawsuit occurred in 1998, when a 55-year-old man alleged that Viagra use caused him to have a heart attack. The man’s legal team was seeking a Viagra settlement of $85 million. This Viagra lawsuit finally reached court in 2000 where it was promptly dismissed. In making this decision, a New York Supreme Court judge noted that there was no scientifically accepted evidence that Viagra side effects included the risk of heart attack.

Five years later, a man filed a Viagra lawsuit in the Texas federal court. In his claim for a Viagra settlement, the man claimed that he had gone blind after a course of treatment. He sought over $75,000 in compensation for these Viagra side effects. The ultimate outcome of this Viagra lawsuit has not been publicized.

In 2007, the FDA added a warning to the medication connecting Viagra use to potential deafness. This decision was reached after a report published in 2007 in the Journal of Laryngology & Otology which reported 29 instances of men experiencing sudden loss of hearing after taking the drug. Two-thirds of these Viagra side effects concerning deafness proved to be permanent. In response to this report, the FDA reviewed its safety records and issued a warning of this small but significant risk.

However, these conclusions have not led to an increase in the number of people filing Viagra lawsuits. There does not appear to have been any notable Viagra lawsuit relating to either blindness or deafness that ended in success. Part of the reason for the lack of compensation for such Viagra side effects concerns the difficulty in establishing cause and effect. While studies have found that these events occur in users, a causal relationship has not been established.

If you wish to pursue a Viagra settlement, it will be difficult to prove that the drug was responsible for causing blindness or deafness. However, if you wish to meet with a lawyer to discuss a potential Viagra lawsuit, it should not be difficult to find an attorney specializing in pharmaceutical law.

Despite concerns about deafness as a potential Viagra side effect, there have been no notable follow-up studies concerning the link. If one emerges demonstrating a clear relationship between the drug and disability, it will be easier to seek a Viagra settlement. However, if you wish to pursue a Viagra lawsuit for these side effects, it is important to act as fast as possible following diagnosis. If you wait to pursue a Viagra settlement, it is possible that the statute of limitations in your state will expire.

Sources:

1. United States National Library of Medicine “Sildenafil” retrieved from:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001046/

2. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/

PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm162833.htm

3. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/27/us-vivus-fda-idUSBRE83Q12L20120427