Merck Propecia Lawsuits

For most doctors, being able to diagnose a problem and prescribe an effective treatment leads to a happy patient. Unfortunately for some men who wanted treatment for hair loss, the medication (finasteride) they were prescribed, led to permanent erectile dysfunction Propecia side effects that even their doctors may not have expected. Men that are suffering from these long-term problems have started filing Merck Propecia lawsuits to help compensate for their ongoing physical and emotional suffering.

Propecia is a pill used to counter male pattern baldness, which occurs in about half of the male population as they age. Although Propecia’s manufacturer, Merck, acknowledges the drug may cause some side effects, the information passed on to doctors and patients does not indicate the possible permanence of these side effects.

When the FDA first approved Propecia in 1997, it was warmly welcomed by men who wanted to slow hair loss and increase hair growth, particularly on the crown of the head. Results were encouraging, even though men were told that improvements might not start until months after taking the drug, and that the improvements would only last with continued use.

Propecia sexual side effects, Merck said, could include temporary loss of interest in sex and also impotence.

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.

Propecia and Complications

Genetics and hormones tend to play a role in determining who is susceptible to male pattern baldness. Scientists believe that some men are more sensitive to a male hormone that is found in the scalp, called DHT. For those men, DHT shrinks the hair follicles, making it more difficult for hair to grow thick or long. Propecia blocks DHT, enhancing the potential for hair growth.

As Propecia affects the male hormone in the scalp, it also affects other parts of the body. Propecia users have experienced breast tenderness and growth and testicular pain. Some men who have taken this medication have had low libidos, difficulty maintaining erections and difficulty reaching orgasm. Most disturbingly, these men continued to have these problems more than 40 months after they discontinued taking the drug.

These men, who read the literature and believed their complications would go away, have suffered years of physical and even psychological difficulty. An initial study, which revealed that 90% of the study patients experienced long-term side effects after taking Propecia, has led to new accounts from other men who have suffered as well.

If you are taking finasteride, or are considering taking it, talk with your doctor about how this medication may affect you, not just immediately, but also in the future. Ask what, if any remedies exist for the potential sexual side effects. Ask about any symptoms you may be experiencing that are related to Propecia erectile dysfunction side effects.

For more information and to discuss your legal options, contact us for a free, confidential, no obligation consultation. There is a limited time to file a Propecia lawsuit so please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights.