Propecia Still Popular despite Dangers

Springfield, ILDespite more than 1,000 Propecia lawsuits filed against Merck, and mounting evidence that Propecia sexual complications can be permanent, the hair loss drug is one of the biggest sellers for many Internet pharmacies.

If a doctor isn’t consulted first, the hair loss drug can be dangerous - some pharmacies are less scrupulous than others. Tony Sanders, spokesman for the
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, said an assistant attorney general who was pregnant was able to obtain Propecia (which is dangerous for pregnant women), which led to one of several lawsuits against online drugstores. “Drugs [such as Viagra and Propecia] are in such high demand that people are willing to risk their health to get them,” Sanders said. (Four drugstores sued for allegedly distributing without Illinois licenses are Mdhealthline.com, Rxclinic.com, Maleclinic.com and Expressrx.com.)

Propecia is also dangerous for some men. A Propecia wrongful death lawsuit was filed last March against Merck in California federal court, claiming failure to warn of the dangerous Propecia side effects such as suicidality and suicide ideation. John Pfaff’s Propecia side effects were not temporary. His wife, Kelly Pfaff, claimed in her lawsuit that John’s non-existent sex drive led to depression, which eventually led to his suicide.

“Propecia has changed my life for the worst,” said Paul (not his real name) in an e-mail. “My sexual problems started about a few years after taking the med, but I kept taking it because I had no idea Propecia caused sexual dysfunction.” Paul stopped taking Propecia in 2013, ten years after he was first prescribed the hair loss drug.

“First my libido declined and after that I had erectile problems,” Paul explained. “I couldn’t maintain an erection during intercourse with my wife and this led to marital problems - she thought I wasn’t interested in her sexually anymore. She even thought I was cheating on her because I couldn’t get aroused.” These problems led to depression, memory loss and moodiness, said Paul. And his wife has suffered, but they have managed to stay together, but in a marriage without sex.

“When I found out that Propecia was to blame, I told my wife. Thank god she is so understanding,” added Paul. “And thank god she still loves me for more than sex. I believe that Merck owes us for almost destroying our family.”