For many males, the prospect of losing their hair as they age is daunting. News of medicines that can deter hair loss can sound promising, but unfortunately for men who take Propecia, the side effects can be even more devastating than the original concern. Men suffering from permanent Propecia side effects have started filing Merck Propecia lawsuits.

About Male Pattern Baldness

Hair loss can take place in many forms, but many men develop a pattern of baldness, particularly on top and front of the head and along the hairline. Both genetics and hormones play a part in hair loss. A family history of hair loss plays a significant role in being susceptible to male pattern baldness. In addition, changes in hormones affect hair growth. The male hormone, called dihydrotestosterone or DHT, naturally occurs in the body, and in some people, it can shrink the hair follicles until they no longer produce visible hair.

Male pattern baldness is indeed a common occurrence; research indicates that 50% of men will have some type of hair loss by the time they reach the age of 50.

Propecia for Baldness

Propecia, with the generic name of Finasteride, was approved by the FDA 1997 as a once-a-day pill to help slow hair loss. Propecia worked by blocking the production of DHT, therefore allowing the hair follicles to remain large enough to grow hair. Results were very encouraging as men found that Propecia helped increase hair growth on the crowns of their heads.

Short-term Propecia Side Effects

Propecia warned that, like most prescription medications, some side effects could occur. One of the strongest warnings was for women. Women were warned not to take Propecia themselves. Furthermore, women who were pregnant or who might become pregnant should not handle a crushed or broken capsule because the medicine, which affects the male hormone, could harm the sex organs of a male baby.

Propecia’s manufacturer, Merck, also warned that additional side effects could occur, including allergic reactions, breast tenderness and testicular pain. A small percentage of patients who had taken Propecia had experienced sexual side effects, however, Merck said, these symptoms disappeared once the patients stopped taking the medicine.

Long-term Propecia Side Effects

Although the manufacturers of Propecia say any sexual side effects stop once the men stop taking the medicine, one group of men who used Propecia for hair loss are still undergoing long-term side effects, years after they stopped using the medicine.

A new study of 71 men who used Propecia indicates that over 90% of the group had side effects including low libido, erectile dysfunction and decreased arousal. Nearly 70% of the group had problems with orgasms. Although patients were told that these symptoms would dissipate, these men continued to have symptoms an average of 40 months after discontinuing the medicine.

If you have taken Propecia and have suffered long-term or permanent Propecia erectile dysfunction side effects please contact us for a free, confidential no-obligation consultation. We are currently investigating Propecia lawsuit claims on behalf of men who have suffered permanent side effects involving erectile dysfunction problems. There is currently no national Propecia class action lawsuit.

For the latest news and updates and information on filing a Propecia lawsuit please call or e-mail us today.

For men who have used Propecia, erectile dysfunction can be an unexpected, devastating and permanent side effect. We are currently investigating individual Propecia lawsuit claims for men suffering from permanent sexual side effects. There is no national Propecia class action lawsuit covering all cases.

Propecia and Hair Loss

Propecia, also known generically as Finasteride, has been prescribed to millions of men to treat male pattern baldness. By the time men reach the age of 50, half of them will have some type of hair loss. It may be a recession of the hairline, or a thinning in the crown on the head. Scientists believe that hair loss is due partly to genetics and partly to male hormones. A particular hormone, DHT (dihydrotestosterone) affects the hair growth. For men who become sensitive to DHT, the hair grows more slowly and becomes thinner.

Propecia works by blocking DHT in the scalp, encouraging hair growth. The drug may take up to three months before results can be seen. Furthermore, the results last only while the drug is being taken. Once Propecia is discontinued, its benefits will diminish and eventually end.

Propecia and Erectile Dysfunction

Because Propecia affects the male hormone, DHT, it also can affect other male functions. In its own literature, Propecia manufacturer, Merck, cautions that Propecia side effects in men can include breast tenderness and growth, testicular pain and, most seriously, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and difficulty with orgasm.

Propecia’s website acknowledges that these problems can occur, but says that the symptoms will stop once the medicine is discontinued. Unfortunately, a number of men who have taken Propecia have found that not to be true.

In a recent study of 71 healthy men who had taken Propecia, over 90% experienced erectile dysfunction. What’s most startling is that even after the men discontinued the medicine, they still had long-term problems that lasted years later. Other research questions if the numbers of those affected are even larger than initially thought.

Propecia, which is prescribed to men 18 and over, can disrupt the sexual function during the main years for dating, marriage and growing a family. Men who took Propecia to counter hair loss and then experienced long-term or permanent erectile dysfunction, may now have little choice but to cope with both hair loss as well as continued sexual side effects.

Merck Propecia Lawsuits
While researchers have not found a sure way to reverse the Propecia side effects, men who are affected by the drug can arm themselves with information about their legal options. We are currently investigating lawsuit claims on behalf of men who have had permanent sexual side effects as a result of taking Propecia. If you would like a free, no-obligation and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, we can help. Please contact us for filing deadlines for Merck Propecia lawsuits and to answer any of your questions. There is currently no national Propecia class action lawsuit covering all claims based on permanent sexual side effects.