Loss of Propecia Sex Drive, Driving Numerous Lawsuits

Washington, DCWould men rather have their hair, or their manhood? With Propecia finasteride, that appears to be the choice for a number of men who have used Propecia only to discover difficulties in the bedroom.

Such problems can not only prove an impediment to a relationship, it can also result in a Propecia lawsuit - and there are a number of them. In fact, according to a release from PRWeb Newswire (3/19/13), there were 140 actions pending in the Propecia Multi-District Litigation as of March 5 (US District Court, Eastern District of New York, MDL 2331 - IN RE: Propecia (Finasteride) Products Liability Litigation). These lawsuits are part of a larger number reported by Propecia manufacturer Merck & Co. November 9 of last year.

At that time, Merck identified 265 lawsuits involving about 415 plaintiffs as of September 30, 2012, alleging continued and persistent Propecia sexual dysfunction after stopping Propecia.

A Propecia lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania Eastern District Court on February 5 alleges Propecia impotence. The claim alleges that Merck & Co. knew, or should have known, about the basket of Propecia side effects, and should have been more forthcoming with regard to those risks with patients and consumers. The lawsuit, case no. 2:2013cv00659, identifies those Propecia side effects as depression, cognitive impairment and erectile dysfunction.

In another Propecia lawsuit, a plaintiff filed an action in New York Eastern District Court on October 8 of last year alleging sexual dysfunction and cognitive impairment after his use of Propecia finasteride. The plaintiff alleges his symptoms continued after he stopped using Propecia finasteride.

The case is case no. 1:2012cv05030. Plaintiffs were not identified in the release.

Propecia has been on the market since 1997, and is also used to treat an enlarged prostate. However, finasteride has been gaining more traction in recent years as a means to slow down the progression of male pattern baldness. While it remains fashionably acceptable today for even young men to sport a shaved head, some men are overly sensitive about a particular skull shape that lends itself to shaving. Others simply prefer having hair, than not.

Many plaintiffs, however, have been unpleasantly surprised when it was discovered that their Propecia dosage is often associated with difficulties between the sheets. Had plaintiffs known about the risks of problems with their Propecia sex drive, they might have weighed the risks and decided their hair loss was less important than the loss of their manhood.

The allegation that sexual dysfunction can translate to Propecia long-term side effects and extend well beyond the point at which the medication is terminated, constitutes a serious event in a man’s life. Many plaintiffs have lost relationships or have divorced. Their lives have never been the same.

Propecia lawsuit plaintiff Kevin Malley alleges that Propecia not only fostered physical and cognitive impairment, his use of Propecia is also alleged to have caused sexual dysfunction and even shrinkage of his genitals. Malley is part of a Propecia class action, and appeared on CNN in August of last year describing his symptoms, and how Propecia has impacted his life in a negative way.