Propecia - Male Pattern Balding Drug with Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and Impotence Side Effects

Propecia is a brand name for the generic drug Finasteride, which is marketed and sold for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.  Recent research and studies show that Propecia can have severe side effects, including erectile dysfunction (ED), loss of libido, problems with orgasm, and depression.   These Propecia side effects can be permanent.

Propecia Disrupts Testosterone Conversion to Promote Hair Growth

Propecia is a synthetic antiandrogen used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vortex and the anterior of the mid-scalp area.  It accomplishes this by preventing a man's body from converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  It does this by inhibiting type II 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT.  Finasteride was initially approved by the FDA for treating enlarged prostates, and sold under the brand name Proscar.  In 1997, the FDA approved Finasteride to treat male pattern baldness under the brand name Propecia.

Propecia Can Cause Long-Term, Even Permanent, Sexual Dysfunction

Two medical journal articles in the March 2011 issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine report that Propecia can cause long-term sexual dysfunction.  This comes after warnings in other countries about these side effects.

One study was based on interviews with 71 otherwise healthy men between the ages of 21 and 46 who reported the new onset of sexual side effects associated with the temporal use of Propecia.  Of this group, 94% developed low libido, 92% developed erectile dysfunction, 92% developed decreased arousal, and 69% developed problems with orgasm.  These side effects lasted for a mean of 40 months after they stopped taking Propecia.

The other article was a case study of a 24-year-old man who began taking Propecia in 1999.  Within 2-5 days after he began taking Propecia, he experienced soreness of the testicles, total lack of sex drive, and complete inability to achieve an erection.  He also had difficulty concentrating and felt depressed.  When he stopped taking Propecia, the side effects diminished to some degree, but his sexual function never returned to normal.  Five years later, he was still experiencing loss of libido, erectile dysfunction (ED), and depression.

Although the FDA has not taken action to require warnings about these side effects, other countries have done do.  The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the Swedish Medical Products Agency have both updated their patient information leaflets to include a statement that “persistence of erectile dysfunction after discontinuation of treatment with Propecia has been reported in post‐marketing use.”

Propecia Side Effects Lawsuits

American men injured by Propecia side effects should stop taking the drug immediately, and consider taking legal action.  Their injuries may be permanent.  A Propecia lawsuit will not bring back their sexual health, but it is the only way for them to receive compensation for their injuries.  The attorneys at DeCarli Law offer free, no-obligation telephone consultations.  Please contact us to learn more about your legal rights and options.