63-YEAR-OLD'S LAWSUIT LINKS VIAGRA WITH HEART ATTACK

NEW YORK (AP) -- A 63-year-old man who had a heart attack after using Viagra
for four days sued Pfizer Inc. for $85 million Thursday in the first lawsuit
against the pharmaceutical company over the impotence pill.

``No one needs to improve their sex life to the point where they might
die,'' said Diego Padro, a retiree who has diabetes.

Padro was stricken May 26, a day and a half after taking the last of four
pills, and was hospitalized for eight days.

``The warning about Viagra to the medical profession is inadequate,'' said
Ronald Benjamin, an attorney for Padro and his wife.

Pfizer said it had not seen the lawsuit and had no comment on the case.

However, the company said Viagra is ``a safe and effective medicine for
erectile dysfunction when used as recommended in the approved package insert.''

``There is a degree of cardiac risk associated with sexual activity,''
Mariann Caprino of Pfizer said.

Padro, who formerly ran a photo lab, said he had recently passed both a
cardiogram and a treadmill stress test. He said his doctor gave him Viagra.
Many men with diabetes experience impotence.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett