Propecia
Propecia is a drug used to treat hair loss. Research suggests that there are sexual side effects of Propecia®, including erectile dysfunction, decreased desire to have sex, problems with orgasm, testicular pain and prostate cancer.
Many men who have taken Propecia® were unaware of it’s serious side effects and many were led to believe that any sexual side effect would be temporary. These side effects may, in fact, actually persistent in some men and can last long after a person stops treatment.
UPDATE (July 2012)- Propecia Side Effects May Not be Temporary
A new study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that for some men, the sexual side effects of Propecia may last for months to years, even after they stop taking
Researchers from George Washington University interviewed 54 men under age 40 who reported side effects for three months or more after taking Propecia. None of the men reported having any sexual, medical or psychiatric problems before they took the drug. Some of the men took the drug for a few weeks, others took it for years, but all of them reported side effects such as erectile dysfunction, decreased sexual drive, problems with orgasms, shrinking and painful genitals, even some neurological problems, such as depression, anxiety, and mental fogginess.
For 96 percent of the men, the sexual problems lasted for more than a year after they stopped taking the drug.
FDA approves Propecia with known sexual side effects
Propecia was manufactured by Merck and approved by the FDA in 1997. Approval was based on a study of 2,000 men with modest to medium hair-loss. After using Propecia for a year, 83% of the men either maintained the same amount of hair or experienced hair growth.
However, these clinical trials also revealed that some men reported sexual side effects, including decreased sexual desire and Propecia erectile dysfunction. In fact, about 8% of men taking the drugs reported erectile dysfunction, and 4.2% reported reduced libido, they found, compared with 4% and 1.8% of men receiving placebo, respectively.
Despite this information, the FDA granted approval to Merck because the alleged Propecia sexual side effects occurred in less than 2% of the research participants.
Cellino & Barnes is here to Help You.
If you or your loved one is suffering from a side effect of Propecia, the attorneys at Cellino & Barnes can help you. We understand the sensitive nature of these side effects and are available for a free confidential consultation.
Contact us today at (800) 888-8888.