Side Effects of Propecia Can Leave men impotent

Propecia, a pill used to counter male pattern baldness, which occurs in about half of the male population as they age, has come under scrutiny when the Propecia sexual side-effects, which were known to occur but believed to be temporary, have turned out to be permanent in some cases. Although Propecia’s manufacturer, Merck, acknowledges the drug may cause some sexual side-effects, the information passed on to doctors and patients did not indicate the possible permanence of these side effects. For some men, the advantage of having hair outweighed the possibility of a short-term sexual side-effect. Recently, however, studies have shown that for some Propecia users, the “short-term” side-effects may actually last indefinitely– even after the men have stopped using the medication, leading to a slew of Propecia lawsuits.

Although Merck has warned men in other countries that sexual side effects may be permanent, suits allege that the drug maker has downplayed the potential Propecia side effects in the United States and continues to provide misleading information that suggests the problems will resolve when the medication is stopped. Label warnings for Propecia in the U.S. indicate that the small number of men who experienced sexual side effects while taking the medication during clinical trials had the dysfunction resolve after stopping the medication.

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. Within two years of receiving approval to sell Propecia, Merck was spending over $125 million a year advertising the product, though none of those ads ever mentioned loss of libido or other sexual side-effects as a possible permanent situation. Male pattern baldness is caused partially by an individual’s reaction to a male hormone, DHT, which is found in the scalp. This hormone causes the hair follicle to shrink, making it difficult for hair to grow. Propecia blocks the hormone, which makes it easier for many men to grow and re-grow their hair. Some studies are beginning to show that the blocking of that hormone may be leading to these side-effects and that Propecia may be shutting the hormone down permanently.

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.

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.