What is Viagra?
Viagra (generic: sildenafil) is used to treat erectile dysfunction, and works by relaxing muscles in the walls of blood vessels and increasing blood flow to certain parts of the body. Originally developed by British scientists, the drug was introduced to the U.S. market by Pfizer in March 1998. Viagra is also sold under brand name Revatio.
What’s the Problem?
Soon after it was released, lawsuits began being filed by men alleging they suffered heart attacks, strokes, vision problems and hearing troubles after taking the drug. In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that warnings about vision loss be added to the medication’s labeling. However, another potential side effect has resulted in a barrage of new lawsuits.
Study Links Viagra to Increased Risk of Skin Cancer
A June 2014 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found an 84% increased risk of melanoma with sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. The findings were based on a study of more than 25,000 men conducted over nearly a decade by researchers from top medical schools including Harvard and Brown University. Viagra labels fail to warn about the skin cancer risk.
Melanoma Symptoms
Melanoma skin cancer can develop anywhere on the body, but most often develops in areas that have been exposed to the sun, such as the back, legs, arms and face. The first symptoms of a melanoma typically include:
- A change in an existing mole
- The development of a new pigmented or unusual-looking growth on your skin
It is important to remember that melanoma skin cancer doesn’t always begin as a mole. It can also occur on otherwise normal-appearing skin.
Has a Class Action Been Filed?
No class action lawsuit has been filed to date in the Viagra litigation. However, in April 2016 a panel of federal judges consolidated 14 Viagra skin cancer lawsuits into a multidistrict Litigation (MDL No. 2691) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. As of mid-July, there were at least 80 lawsuits pending in the litigation.
Do I Have a Viagra Melanoma Skin Cancer Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Viagra lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new skin cancer cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you were diagnosed with melanoma after using Viagra, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a lawsuit and we can help.