New Plaintiff Alleges Propecia Caused Sexual Dysfunction and Cognitive Impairment

Over the last several years men have been reporting that the drug Propecia (also referred to by the generic name finasteride) which is prescribed to treat male pattern hair loss (MPHL) has caused permanent Propecia sexual side effects including erectile dysfunction even after stopping their Propecia treatment. Jason McCord, in his Propecia Lawsuit, was 36 at the time he started to take Propecia. He claims not to have suffered from any sexual dysfunction before that time and his lawsuit, filed on January 6, 2012, has made the claim that the Propecia side effects have continued after quitting the drug. Unlike other plaintiffs, McCord has also claimed that he suffered from cognitive impairment as well. Millions of prescriptions have been filled for Propecia in the United States to help treat male pattern baldness. According to the manufacturer, Merck & Co., Inc., there is the potential for Propecia sexual side effects, however the side effects go away after discontinuing treatment.

Through Propecia litigation, former users are able to obtain compensation for damages and ensure that drug makers are held accountable for placing profits before consumer safety. Since introducing Propecia for hair loss, Merck has engaged in an aggressive direct-to-consumer marketing campaign for their medication, which has been referred to as a “cosmeceutical” product. Now, many former users are alleging that the long term effects of taking Propecia were hidden from them. Some doctors have indicated that the medication destroyed the life of patients, causing problems that substantially outweigh any concerns about the appearance of hair loss, often leading to depression, fatigue and other injuries.

Propecia warnings provided in the United States suggested that sexual side effects were only seen in a very small number of men and indicated that the Propecia problems went away in men who stopped taking the drug. Allegedly, Merck failed to disclose the large number of users who were continuing to suffer persistent and irreversible Propecia sexual problems even after they stopped using the medication. Many Propecia lawyers will note that in 2008 the Proecia label in Sweden was changed by Merck to warn that persistent erectile dysfunction had been reported, though no similar update was made in the U.S.

Propecia Lawsuit Settlements Address Long-term Side Effects

In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of Propecia (finasteride, 1 mg) to treat male pattern baldness. Hailed as the new generation in hair loss remedies, the drug was the first of its kind to be available in pill form. Like all medications, Propecia warned of potential risks, including erectile dysfunction and other sexual side effects while using the drug.

Permanence of Propecia's Side Effects

Unfortunately, patients on the pill soon learned that Propecia's side effects were not short-term; instead, they can persist for years or, as some believe, may be permanent. This discovery led to Propecia lawsuits around the country, although as of October 2011, there is currently no multi-district litigation (MDL), national class action suit, or mass tort case against Propecia. Victims of Propecia's sexual side effects are encouraged to pursue individual lawsuits until there are enough cases to warrant consolidation into an MDL. However, several regional class action suits have already been filed in the United States and Canada.

In the meantime, individuals seek reparations for Propecia side effects on their own. A recent in U.S. District Court case in Seattle, filed in Washington State's Western District Court, addresses side effects experienced by Charles Shute. Shute, and other plaintiffs like him, alleges that Merck, the manufacturer of Propecia, did not provide adequate warnings regarding the medication's risk factors. In fact, Shute explains that he was informed only of temporary sexual side effects that would disappear as soon as he discontinued use of Propecia. This is not the case.

Sexual Side Effects the Cause of Propecia Lawsuits

Propecia, a treatment for male pattern-baldness, is currently facing lawsuits that address the drug's serious side effects. Since 1997, Propecia (finasteride, 1 mg) has been marketed as the world's first hair-loss remedy available as a pill. When the medication first became available, Merck, the drug's manufacturer, warned consumers of a low risk of erectile dysfunction and other sexual side effects. However, studies conducted over the last 14 years have revealed that Propecia's side effects are more plentiful and persistent than first reported.

Lawsuits Against Propecia Increase

As more plaintiffs file Propecia lawsuits, news has spread regarding the drug's side effects. While all medications have possible side effects, medical experts explain that the issue is whether a drug's benefits outweigh the risks. In a case such as Propecia, the cons were not fully understood or disclosed, so patients made decisions without fully understanding potential risks to their health.

In a recent Los Angeles Times article, Dr. Valerie Ulene, a board-certified specialist in preventative medicine, expressed her concern over Propecia. Dr. Ulene encourages a risk analysis of the drug's benefits – reducing bald spots, slowing hair loss, and improving hair's appearance – compared with Propecia side effects, which include male breast cancer, impotence, and an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Ulene's opinion is that the possibility of serious, long-term repercussions is what has prompted so many Propecia lawsuits.

Propecia Causes Long-term Erectile Dysfunction and Other Side Effects

In 1992, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Proscar (finasteride, 5 mg) to treat benign prostate enlargement. Five years later, in 1997, the FDA gave the go-ahead to use the finasteride in one-milligram doses to treat male pattern baldness. Merck, the drug's manufacturer, marketed the new wonder drug as Propecia – the first hair-loss remedy available in pill form.

When Propecia first hit the market, Merck warned of several side effects that included a low risk of Propecia erectile dysfunction. However, later studies revealed that the risk of sexual side effects were higher than originally estimated.

Sexual Side Effects

During the initial FDA-approval process, Merck's clinical studies reported that use of Propecia showed a less than two percent chance of Propecia sexual side effects such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), and a decreased amount of ejaculate. Additionally, a small percent of men experienced testicular pain and breast enlargement. The original label for Propecia warned users against these side effects.

Canadian Officials Site Male Breast Cancer as Risk of Propecia

The side effects of Propecia, a popular hair loss medication, may increase the risk that men experience erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and other sexual problems, which have been permanent in some cases.  Research has suggested that only about half of men who experienced sexual side effects of Propecia have the problems resolve after they stop the medication. Other studies have found that the mean duration of Propecia erectile dysfunction was 40 months, with 20% of subjects reporting durations over 6 years. In addition to this, there have also been shown to be links between Propecia and male breast cancer. Canadian health officials have issued a new warning

Man Claims that Propecia Warning did not List Continued Sexual Dysfunction as Side Effect

Recently, a number of men who claim to have developed erectile dysfunction while using Propecia have filed suit against Merck & Co., the maker of that drug. According to a Propecia erectile dysfunction lawsuit filed this past April in federal court in New Jersey, Merck changed label warnings for the drug in Sweden, Italy and the United Kingdom to include “persistence of erectile dysfunction after discontinuation of treatment” as a possible side effect. These label changes occurred after the Swedish Medical Products Agency began “investigating reports of persistent sexual dysfunction side effects which continue in men despite discontinuing finasteride” in 2006. But Merck revised the U.S. Propecia product monograph in 2010 without including an “updated warning regarding the persistence of sexual dysfunction,” the Propecia lawsuit claims.