Baldness Drug Propecia Linked to Sustained Sexual Problems
A popular male baldness drug may have men looking good on top, but a recent study has found that what it’s doing down below might want to make men seriously consider whether the cure is worth that luxuriant mop of hair.
The research, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, found that 96 percent of men in the study who took the drug finasteride — commercially known as Propecia — for baldness, experienced adverse sexual side effects, like ejaculation and orgasm problems, for more than a year after they stopped taking the medication.
The study found that 89 percent of them had problems severe enough to be considered sexual dysfunction.
One of the researchers, Dr. Michael Irwig of George Washington University, told ABC News that the findings of this study made him suspicious that the drug may have done permanent damage to the men. However, he did concede that, overall, men who suffer from sexual side effects from the drug are probably in the 3 percent range. The researchers recruited the men for the study from a website where Propecia-related sexual side effects are reported.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required that labels be added to Propecia warning of potential sexual side effects like decreased libido and male infertility.
Merck, the manufacturer of Propecia, reported sales of $447 million last year.
If you believe you’ve suffered an injury due to a prescription drug, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced Jacksonville pharmaceutical litigation attorneys at Farah & Farah understand the complex issues that surround these cases and are prepared to take the drug companies to task to see that your legal rights are protected. If you would like a review of your case, we can be contacted at (800) 533-3555.
