Reuters: Man claims Viagra made him crash car
Tuesday July 28 5:50 PM EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New Jersey man is suing the makers of Viagra for one of the more bizarre claims of side effects from the potency pill -- blue-tinged, blurred vision that caused him to crash his car.
A spokesman for the manufacturers Pfizer Inc., said Tuesday that the lawsuit was the first against the company to claim the unusual effect, although he said 3 percent of Viagra users had reported vision problems.
The small blue pills went on sale in April amid extensive media coverage. Pfizer estimates 2 million men have tried it.
Four men have claimed Viagra caused them to suffer heart attacks. The Food and Drug Administration has reported 30 deaths of men who took Viagra although the makers and the medical experts -- including the FDA -- say there is no proof the drug caused the deaths.
The lawsuit filed Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court claims that two hours after taking Viagra July 1, used car salesman Joseph Moran, 53, of Colonia, New Jersey, was distracted by bluish vision and crashed into a tree and two parked cars.
Moran's attorney Ronald Benjamin said Tuesday that Moran also saw blue streaks shoot out from his fingers as he reached to remove an audio cassette. Moran's head was cut and his neck, arms and back were bruised in the accident, the suit claims.
Moran is seeking $110 million in damages, claiming Pfizer did not adequately test Viagra for adverse effects on vital organs including the retina before putting Viagra on sale and did not include a warning not to drive after taking the medication.
Pfizer spokesman Andy McCormick said the company conducted "extensive" retina testing and that the FDA, which approved Viagra, did not find a "Do not drive" warning necessary.
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