Dear Doctors: Think Twice before Prescribing Propecia

Los Angeles, CAAlthough doctors are still prescribing Propecia as a hair-loss treatment, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Chances are, you are better off with bald on top rather than Propecia problems below.

In fact, two doctors and New Hair Institute Medical Group are facing a medical malpractice lawsuit along with Merck, the Propecia manufacturer. Plaintiff KM's case has been remanded to state court due to his claim against local doctors. And it could proceed in conjunction with his products-liability claim against Merck, which is based in New Jersey.

According to the complaint, Dr. Richard Rassman, Dr. Jae Pak and New Hair Institute Medical Group - all in California - committed medical malpractice by treating KM’s baldness with Propecia without properly warning him of the consequences. Merck is on the hook for strict liability and related claims, including failure to test, failure to warn about the manufacturing and distributing Propecia. Merck is also accused of breach of express and implied warranties in administering Propecia to KM without disclosing that it was not safe. As a result of this, KM claims that he has a “high risk for both transient and irreversible ED” (erectile dysfunction).

Even though Propecia’s link to sexual dysfunction has been widely publicized, doctors are still recommending Finasteride (generic name) as a first-line treatment. Probably because the FDA approved the medication.

In a nutshell, Propecia works by blocking the hormone testosterone that causes hair loss. Proponents of the drug argue that many men who are balding have medium to high levels of testosterone, which are affecting their hair follicles in the first place. So they can afford to lose some testosterone. Or can they?

Back in 1997, the Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA concluded that Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is “effective in the treatment of male pattern hair loss,” but it did not recommend Propecia. Merck did not convince the panel that decreased libido, difficulty in achieving an erection and a decrease in the amount of semen produced during a clinical trial was temporary.

In 2012, a Las Vegas man told CNN’s Good Morning America that he was ‘completely impotent’ and his testes had shrunk after he took Propecia. Kevin Malley went on to conduct a multiday hunger strike outside of Merck’s corporate headquarters, and raise awareness about Propecia sexual dysfunction. The jury is still out as doctors are still prescribing the drug. Meanwhile, doctors might want to follow the KM case.