NY Post - Feds: Don't Blame These Stiffs On Viagra
By GERSH KUNTZMAN
The Food and Drug Administration has
cleared Viagra maker Pfizer in the
deaths of more than a dozen men who
were taking the so-called Love Drug.
Since the drug's approval in March, 16
men have died after Viagra-aided sex.
But after investigating each death, the
FDA says Viagra played no role.
"The deaths are not related directly to
use of the drug," said FDA
spokeswoman Susan Cruzan.
"They do not change the FDA's
perspective on the use or safety of the
drug."
Pfizer stock rose more than four points,
to 112, on the strength of the news.
"It's what we've said before: The drug is
safe," said Pfizer spokesman Andy
McCormick.
Erectile dysfunction is often coupled
with heart disease, diabetes and high
blood pressure - conditions that put
patients at a high risk for heart attacks
whether they take Viagra or not, medical
experts say.
Viagra's safety label does warn of
mixing the impotence drug with heart
medications like nitroglycerin, which
could cause blood pressure to drop to
fatal levels.
Despite the warning, several of the
dead men were taking nitrate-based
heart medications when they used
Viagra.
In one case report, a 74-year-old man
taking four drugs to treat his high blood
pressure, diabetes and cancer died the
morning after taking Viagra.
In another case, a 73-year-old man died
during sexual activity after taking a
second dose of the drug. The man had
a history of high blood pressure, the
report said.
The drug's approval set off a Viagra
craze, as impotent - and some
not-so-impotent - men clamored for the
Pfizer Riser.
The vast majority of the phenomenal 1.7
million Viagra prescriptions have been
written for men over 50, who have a far
higher rate of heart attack than the
general population.
And having sex puts an additional strain
on the heart - a problem for men who
have not remained active.
That's what happened with Gerri
Howorth and her husband last month.
Harry "Mike" Howorth, who had a history
of heart disease but was not taking
nitrates at the time, popped a Viagra
and had sex with his wife for the first
time in months.
He collapsed an hour later and never
regained consciousness.
"If my husband hadn't taken that pill, he'd
be alive today," Gerri Howorth told The
Post.
"I'm not suing Pfizer, but Viagra did
contribute to his death. People should
be very, very careful before they take
this drug. You should have a complete
physical."
Mike Howorth, who got the pill as a
sample from his doctor, did not have a
physical before using the drug.
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