No more recreational add-on's for me.


Some Viagra users report blindness-Pfizer

Reuters
Friday, May 27, 2005; 11:51 AM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators on Friday said they have received more than 40 reports of a type of blindness in men taking impotence drugs, mostly involving Pfizer Inc.'s Viagra.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it has received about 38 reports of the rare condition among users of Viagra, four reports of blindness among users of Eli Lilly and Co.'s Cialis and one report of the condition in men talking Levitra, made by GlaxoSmithKline Plc.

Pfizer said outside of clinical trials, Viagra has been used by more than 23 million men worldwide over the past seven years. It said reports are extremely rare of visual loss due to the condition known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

"FDA is aware of these reports but has not determined there is a cause and effect due to use of Viagra ... We're working with the company to make sure this information is available to doctors and patients," FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan told Reuters.

New York-based Pfizer acknowledged the rare cases of blindness and is weighing a label change. But it emphasized no proof exists that the blindness is linked to the drug, which was introduced in 1998 and had $1.68 billion in sales in 2004.

"We are in discussions with the FDA to update our language to reflect these rare ocular events that have occurred," Pfizer spokesman Daniel Watts said.

Viagra's label currently lists the most common side effects as headache, facial flushing and upset stomach, and says the less common are bluish or blurred visions and sensitivity to light that may occur for a short time.

"There is no evidence showing that NAION occurred more frequently in men taking Viagra than men of similar age and health who did not take Viagra," Pfizer said in a statement.

The FDA's Cruzan said NAOIN is not uncommon for people of the age that use the impotence drugs, who have conditions like heart conditions, diabetes and heart disease. It also occurs in patients who have not taken Viagra.

"FDA continues to evaluate the situation and recommends that patients talk to their health-care provider if they have specific questions," Cruzan said.

Officials for GlaxoSmithKline and Lilly were not immediately available. Cruzan said the FDA "would be talking to them (the manufacturer) about adding that information to the label."

Pfizer shares fell 55 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $28.35 in morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares of Eli Lilly & Co. which makes rival impotence drug Cialis, rose 3 cents to $59.13 on the NYSE. GlaxoSmithKline Plc, which makes Levitra rose 31 cents to $49.71 on the NYSE.

So I guess that in one of Robin Williams´stand up acts, he retort to the question of what he was doing "GOING BLIND!" is correct.......

Iggy

__________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

2006 - Suzuki Gran Vitara (2.0 L fully equipped) Like this car so far except for trying to put on the seatbelt.
1988 - 190e - 2.3L - 172K miles (It now belongs to the exwife)
1999 - Chevy Blazer LS Fully Equiped - killed it June 2006
2001 - Honda Civic EX - 68K miles (sold June 2004)
1963 - 220S - Dual Carb 6 cyl. (sold)
1994 - Yamaha WaveRaider (fun to ride)

can you guys use bigger fonts i can't read what you're writing

__________________
"NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID PEOPLE IN LARGE GROUPS!"

Damn, first they tell me that masturbation causes blindness, and now it's viagra!

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I always thought too much sex caused blindness which is why I have a Braille keyboard.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

The sound of one-hand typing.

OMG!
Keep tissues handy!

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Next you'll tell us they are getting hairy palms and spots on their clothes.

I think that 38 cases in 23 million is pretty good. Your chances of affliction are 0.0000017%

Bring on those odds

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Pxland

2001 Honda Accord

1995 Jeep Cherokee

1973 MB 280SEL 4.5

I could live with that the odds of being struck by lightning are 1/700000 so I consider 38/28000000 pretty good.

I wonder what the odds of going blind for reasons other than Viagra are.

I don't know. If you get hairy palms, then that's a great warning.

I never really got the hairy palm thing, a guy would think that it would wear the hair OFF.

A letter in today's SF Chronicle, one of the best features in that over-rated rag.

SIDE EFFECTS

Editor -- The bad news is, Viagra has caused blindness in some men. The good news is, none of them seem to be complaining. God bless our troops, God bless our drug companies, God bless our guide dogs, God bless our erections that last more than four hours.

JERRY COURTNEY
San Francisco

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Hmmmm, think about that for a moment. I think we can find ample evidence to the contrary without leaving home.