In 2014, medical researchers announced that Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs may be linked to melanoma. Previously, Viagra had been the only drug indicated to allegedly cause Viagra melanoma due to the time period of the studies, but later research included new generation erectile dysfunction treatment drugs.

The most prominent study that had pointed out the possible Viagra melanoma correlation was a 2014 Viagra study conducted by Dr. Abrar Qureshi, Chairman of Brown University’s Dermatology Department. He and other scientists observed the side effects of Viagra in patients, and postulated the likelihood of skin cancer development. The study was published in the April 2014 issue of JAMA, and had been conducted by Dr. Qureshi as well as other researchers associated with the Harvard School of Public Health.

The Viagra melanoma study was conducted between 2000 and 2010, and involved close to 26,000 male participants. From this data pool, over 3,500 cases of Viagra skin cancer were reported, with 142 of them being Viagra melanoma. Ultimately, researchers estimated that men were 84 percent more likely to develop melanoma when taking Viagra.

Experts explain that the biological mechanism of Viagra opens certain pathways of the body’s internal network, which in turn allows for the possibility of melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer, and can be difficult to control and can lead to the end of the patient’s life. While melanoma skin cancer is curable if discovered early enough, the condition is nearly impossible to treat if found too late, and is responsible for approximately 10,000 deaths per year in the United States.

Overview of Melanoma Risk

Despite the health implications of melanoma, the study’s researchers did not suggest that patients cease taking Viagra. The scientists reminded the reviewing experts that their Viagra melanoma study did not measure cause and effect, and that the results primarily consisted of observational data that the participants voluntarily submitted. Additionally, when the study first began in 2000, only Viagra had been available to the market, meaning similar erectile dysfunction treatments and their possible link to melanoma skin cancer were not observed or compared to the rates of Viagra melanoma.

Since then, two other erectile treatment drugs had been approved for sale in the American market and have also been indicated to allegedly cause melanoma skin cancer. Cialis and Levitra have the same biological mechanism as Viagra, but no follow-up studies have been conducted to determine if they may also have a connection to melanoma.

Cialis was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2011 as an erectile treatment drug for adult men, and is manufactured by Eli Lilly & Co. Likewise, Levitra was approved for the same purpose earlier in 2003, and is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. Both of the drugs have become strong contenders in the erectile dysfunction treatment market, despite Viagra holding the crown since 1998. While neither of these drugs were mentioned in the study, experts speculate that they may also have the same melanoma problem as Viagra, due to the similar drug mechanism.

Overall, the researchers recommended that physicians do not prescribe Viagra casually and to monitor patients’ skin for any signs of melanoma. However, due to the little evidence supporting the evidence of melanoma, the researchers state that patients should not suddenly stop taking Viagra. Additionally, scientists recommend that further research be conducted to observe the possible correlation between Levitra and Cialis and melanoma skin cancer.

Despite the fact that only one prominent study had been conducted, it sparked a class action lawsuit movement against Pfizer. Thousands of men and their families have filed Viagra skin cancer class action lawsuits accusing the company of failing to protect them against the possible injury from melanoma, as well as for deliberately concealing vital safety information. Furthermore, many of these plaintiffs claim that they never would have used Viagra if they had known about the possibility of Viagra melanoma.