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Propecia Lawyers Handling Sexual Dysfunction Lawsuits
Propecia, a common medication used to treat hair loss in men, has been reported to cause serious sexual, mental and physical side effects including loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and depression. Many men who take this drug are unaware of the severity of Propecia’s side effects because they may have been led to believe by the drug’s manufacturer Merck that any sexual side effects were temporary. Instead, new studies and other reports are showing that these serious side effects can continue for months, even years, after a person has stopped taking Propecia.
Propecia attorneys at the Simmons Law Firm are currently investigating claims against the drug's manufacturer Merck. If you or a loved one has taken Propecia, please contact one of these experienced dangerous drug attorneys.
About Propecia's Sexual Side Effects
Propecia and Proscar are brand names for finasteride, a synthetic antiandrogen that prevents enzymes from converting testosterone to dihyudrotestosterone (DHT). High levels of DHT are believed to be responsible for baldness in men and an enlarged prostate. In 1992, the FDA approved the use of finasteride under the brand name Proscar to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Then, in 1997, it was approved to treat male pattern baldness (MPB) under the brand name Propecia. Merck makes both these brands.
Recognized side effects included on Propecia’s label include impotence, abnormal ejaculation, decreased ejaculatory volume, abnormal sexual function, gynecomastia, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder, and testicular pain. However, according to the package labeling, these side effects were believed to be temporary and would cease once treatment was discontinued.
A new study, conducted by George Washington University professor Michael S. Irwig, raises concerns that these side effects could be permanent in at least 15 percent of men who have taken Propecia or Proscar, even after discontinuing the drug.
The study, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, included interviews with 71 men between the ages of 21 to 46 years. Results show that 94 percent developed low libido, 92 percent developed erectile dysfunction and decreased arousal, and 69 percent reported orgasm problems.
While Propecia and Proscar’s labeling in the United States continues to state that the side effects are reversible, other countries have taken steps to warn consumers. In 2008, the Swedish Medical Products agency issued a warning that the use of finasteride could result in irreversible sexual dysfunction. The United Kingdom’s Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has acknowledged reports of persistent erectile dysfunction associated with finasteride. And the Italian government has required updated finasteride labeling to reflect the possibly of permanent sexual side effects.
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Contact the Simmons Law Firm
We are currently investigating claims on behalf of many men who have been injured due to taking Propecia, Proscar and other drugs containing finasteride. Those interested in filing a Propecia or Proscar lawsuit can contact our experienced dangerous drug attorneys today for a free consultation by filling out our Propecia contact form or by calling 1-877-318-0580.
Resources for Clients
Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss study