Dangerous Drugs
Cialis Drug Injuries
Columbus, Ohio
Drugs for erectile dysfunction are a booming market for pharmaceutical companies. Three major varieties of erectile dysfunction drugs on the market--Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and Levitra (vardenafil)--have several million prescriptions written annually, and the numbers continue to grow. These drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but they do have dangerous, potentially deadly side effects including dangerous drops in blood pressure and hearing and vision loss.
If you or a loved one has suffered adverse side effects from using Cialis or another drug for erectile dysfunction, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact the Columbus, Ohio personal injury lawyers at Robert W. Kerpsack CO., L.P.A. today to discuss a possible dangerous drug lawsuit.
How Cialis Works
Viagra was originally studied as a potential cure for angina (a lack of blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle) or high blood pressure. The increased likelihood that a man would experience an erection during treatment was originally a side effect.
Once Viagra was successfully marketed as a drug for erectile dysfunction, other drugs were introduced, including Cialis and Levitra. These drugs prevent the degradation of an enzyme that causes the relaxation of smooth muscle, leading to the expansion of blood vessels, and, incidentally, the release of blood into the corpus cavernosum, the spongy material in the penis.
Potentially Dangerous Side Effects
Because these drugs dilate blood vessels, they can create a decrease in blood pressure that can have serious effects. For most people, the small, generally transient dip in blood pressure is not serious, but for people with heart risks, even a small drop can be dangerous. For people taking heart medications, erectile dysfunction drugs can be a dangerous combination.
Cialis has been associated with the potentially serious vision loss known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). In this condition, sudden vision loss occurs in one or both eyes, affecting half or all the eye's field of vision. This is not currently described as a causal relationship, but there is a temporal association between the onset of NAION and the use of erectile dysfunction drugs that seems unlikely to be coincidental. Viagra is most commonly associated with a blue tinge to vision and other transient vision effects, but there is a potential for people taking Cialis to see this effect as well.
Another side effect associated with the use of erectile dysfunction drugs like Cialis is hearing loss. The onset of hearing loss is sudden, can affect one or both ears, and may be permanent. For most people hearing loss occurs after taking the first dose of Cialis. Clinical trials showed that hearing loss occurs in about 1 out of every 5000 patients. There is no accepted explanation for the cause of hearing loss.
Known Dangers
The side effects of Cialis showed up during clinical trials, and manufacturers knew that once the drug was put on the market thousands of people would be affected, but the decision was made to market Cialis anyway. If you experienced any of these dangerous side effects from taking Cialis, please schedule a drug-related injury consultation with Robert W. Kerpsack CO., L.P.A., Cialis Lawyer in Columbus, Ohio.
