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.

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.

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.