Pfizer sued over Viagra induced blindness

On June 3rd 2005 , Parker & Waichman, LLP (who make a very good living on personal injury, medical claims, medical drug liability class actions) claimed they had been contacted by prospective clients who claim to have suffered loss of vision or complete vision loss as a result of using the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra (sildenafil citrate).

The FDA had announced the week previously that it was investigating a link between erectile dysfunction drugs and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) - which can cause blindness. NAION is a vascular event that occurs when blood flow to the small arteries that supply the optic nerve is decreased or blocked. The lack of blood supply to the optic nerve causes damage to the nerve, which may result in permanent vision loss in one or both eyes. NAION is usually permanent and often leads to legal blindness. NAION usually develops without pain, and patients often awake one morning with reduced vision or total vision loss in one or both eyes. The condition typically worsens over the next one to two weeks. Risk factors normally associated with NAION are age, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and other eye problems.

Parker & Waichman, LLP has also received a significant number of inquiries from Cialis and Levitra users who claim to have suffered vision loss after using those drugs. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra patients.

In its announcement , The Food and Drug Administration said it had received 43 reports of varying degrees of vision loss, including blindness, among users of erectile dysfunction drugs.

With Viagra users there were 38 reports of blindness (6 patients had vision loss within 24 hours)
With Cialis 4 users reported vision loss.
With Levitra 1 person reported such visual impairment.

Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) and ICOS Corp. (NASDAQ: ICOS), the makers of Cialis, had already added a warning about possible vision loss to the drug’s label.

The FDA has said it is in discussions with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) the maker of Viagra, and the makers of Levitra, Bayer AG (NYSE: BAY), GlaxoSmithKline PLC (NYSE: GSK) and Schering Plough CP (NYSE: SGP) about warnings on those drugs’ labels. Over 50 million men worldwide have used an erectile dysfunction drug since Viagra came onto the market in 1998.

In July the FDA provided updated labeling information for erectile dysfunction drugs to warn of potential vision loss.Pfizer added a section to the "Information for Patients" section of the Viagra label notifying patients that a potential link between Viagra and NAION may exist.

Today Parker & Waichman, LLP announced that it has filed suit against Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) on behalf of a victim who was diagnosed with Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, or NAION, after using Viagra for 4-1/2 years. In July 2005, the FDA issued alerts to physicians and patients about potential vision loss associated with the use of Viagra.

The suit, filed on behalf of the victim and his wife, was filed in US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The plaintiff was diagnosed with NAION after using Viagra from July 1998 to January 2003. Prior to this diagnosis, the plaintiff did not suffer from any serious eye or vision problems. The plaintiff has incurred significant economic losses, including lost pay and medical treatment expenses, which will continue in the future. The suit seeks damages from Pfizer for the defective design of Viagra, and for the failure to warn consumers about the potential risk of vision loss that is associated with the drug.

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