Tags: Propecia | Lawsuit | Sexual Side Effects | Sexual Dysfunction | Lawyers | Low Libido
If you experienced any Propecia side effects such as sexual dysfunction, you should file a Propecia lawsuit immediately. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Our Propecia lawyers are currently evaluating and investigating potential claims. In addition to being staunch advocates for your claim, our Propecia lawyers also provide personal attention to guide you through the complex litigation process. Contact us today for a free case review by calling toll free 1.877.779.1414.
Propecia Study
Propecia may cause sexual dysfunction as a side effect, according to a new study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study found numerous sexual side effects including erectile dysfunction, low libido, trouble having an orgasm, and shrinking and painful genitals. These Propecia side effects may last months after patients stop using the drug.
The study was conducted by researchers from George Washington University, and surveyed 54 men under age 40. The subjects reported experiencing side effects for three months or longer after they stopped taking Propecia. 96 percent of the men experienced sexual problems that lasted more than a year after they finished using the drug.
None of the men had sexual, medical or psychiatric complaints before they took Propecia. Dr. Michael S. Irwig, lead author of the study, told ABC News, “Our findings make me suspicious that this drug may have done permanent damage to these men…The chances that they will improve? I think it’s lower and lower the longer they have these side effects.”
Propecia’s Numerous Sexual Side Effects Are A Serious Concern
In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved Propecia to treat male baldness without any in-depth study of the drug’s long term side effects. This troubled the FDA dermatologic drug chief at the time, Dr. Michael Weintraub, who told The Examiner that “his main concern was whether it was safe for young men to take a pill for many years…especially one that affects hormones…merely to fight hair loss.” Merck noticed a few reports of sexual side effects during clinical trials of the drug, but the FDA said that the side effects were resolved when patients stopped taking Propecia. Subsequent data suggest otherwise.
- The FDA received over 400 reports of Propecia sexual dysfunction over the next 13 years, nearly 60 of which reported that the Propecia side effects lasted longer than three months after the men stopped taking the drug.
- In 2011, the FDA mandated that the drug label for Propecia include a warning about long lasting erectile dysfunction.
- In April 2012, the FDA updated the label to include warnings about libido, ejaculation and orgasm disorders.
Further Evidence Of Propecia Sexual Dysfunction Side Effects Found In Examiner Report
AdverseEvents Inc., one of the leading resources of information on drug side effects, released a report earlier this year that identified FDA approved drugs most associated with brain-related side effects. Propecia was the top drug linked to sexual dysfunction side effects by a large margin, according to an Examiner report on Propecia side effects.
Dr. Irwig author of the study, explained that Propecia is different from the majority of drugs whose side effects end when you stop taking them: “Finasteride can actually change the brain’s chemistry. The enzyme 5 alpha reductase is present in many areas of the brain. It is rare for a drug to have the capability to persistently change the brain’s chemistry.”
Duke University Medical Center Professor P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.D., commented, “It is critical for consumers and prescribers to be aware of such potentially adverse effects. Some of these side effects, such as loss of libido or amnesia, can have a devastating impact on a person’s quality of life.”
