Find A Pharmaceutical Lawyer

Summary

Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is an anti-impotence drug that allows men to achieve and maintain an erection during sexual intercourse. It is taken in pill form to treat erectile dysfunction (ED)—a condition affecting millions of men worldwide. Viagra works by affecting the mechanism that limits blood flow to the penis in men who have ED.

 

Sometimes called “the little blue pill,” the dosage is one pill by mouth taken between 4 hours and 30 minutes prior to sexual activity. It should be used only when needed but never more than once a day. Men who take nitroglycerin or other nitrate-based drugs should not use Viagra.

 

Big Business

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Viagra for U.S. sale in 1998. Viagra quickly took the market by storm, selling over $1 billion worth in 3 years. It didn’t take long for competitors to attempt to catch up.

 

In August 2003, The FDA approved Levitra (vardenafil) a second oral ED drug manufactured by Bayer AG and GlaxoSmith Kline. This was followed by Cialis (tadalafil) in November 2003, yet a third ED drug, developed and produced by Icos Corp. and Eli Lilly. Cialis—which can take effect on a full stomach in as little as 30 minutes—is said to remain in the body up to 36 hours, which is longest of the three competitors.

 

Still, Viagra grabs the lion’s share of the market. By the end of 2003, the combined global sales of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra was said to be $2.5 billion—with $1.7 billion in sales attributed to Viagra alone.

 

Buyer Beware

 

In 2000, however, 564 deaths were linked to the use of Viagra. According to the report, most of the fatalities were from cardiovascular complications in men who were less than 65 years old, with no cardiac risk factors, between 4 to 5 hours after taking the drug.

 

On October 20, 2005. Public Citizen petitioned the FDA to post a black box warning for doctors and patients about potential risks of vision loss among patients taking Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs.

 

Canada also issued an advisory regarding Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, alerting patients to “seek immediate medical attention” if they experience sudden vision loss or other vision-related problems when taking ED drugs.

 

On October 18, 2007, the FDA announced that the labeling on Viagra—as well as Cialis and Levitra—will display information on the potential risk of sudden hearing loss. The labeling changes came after a number of patients on ED drugs reported sudden hearing loss, sometimes with dizziness and/or ringing in the ears.

 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced serious complications as a result of using an erectile dysfunction drug like Viagra, you should consult with a pharmaceutical lawyer right away. A pharmaceutical lawyer can advise you on pursuing a lawsuit and get you the compensation you deserve for your harm.