Propecia Lawsuits

Propecia is a popular prescription drug used to help control male pattern baldness. Like all drugs, there are adverse side effects that make some patients question whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Over time, patients have reported more side effects and adverse events with the drug. Some have even filed lawsuits against prescription drug companies for failing to warn of the risks. 

Drug defect lawsuits hold drug companies liable for dangerous drug injuries. If you or a loved one suffered injuries related to Propecia, talk to an experienced defective drug lawyer about your legal options.

What Is Propecia?

Finasteride is the generic name for the hair loss drug Propecia, manufactured by Merck & Co. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Propecia in 1992. Also marketed as Proscar, Propecia is for the treatment of male pattern baldness. Male pattern hair loss begins at the hairline and gradually recedes backward. Male pattern baldness is often associated with age and a change in male sex hormones.

Propecia is also used for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with enlarged prostates. This can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. 

Propecia is a type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, which is the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Finasteride is a synthetic compound that converts androgen testosterone into 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). 

Are There Side Effects When Using Propecia?

There are side effects and adverse events related to using Propecia. Disclosed side effects are on the Propecia label. Other side effects may come out over time as more patients report their medical concerns. Possible Propecia side effects include: 

• Testicular pain, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, problems with ejaculation, and lower sperm counts
• Male breast cancer, breast tenderness, and breast enlargement (gynecomastia)
• Depression
• Allergic reactions

Pregnant women should not take Propecia. The drug may cause abnormalities in a male fetus. The warning labels for Propecia in Europe informed people of the dangerous side effects as far back as 2008. However, it took years before people in the U.S. and Canada got the same drug warnings about potential sexual dysfunction. 

Has the FDA Recalled Propecia?

The FDA has not recalled Propecia. However, patients continue to report problems with the drug that go beyond the warnings on the drug label. 

According to an article in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Propecia has been associated with persistent sexual dysfunction for years after discontinuing the medication. Some of the adverse side effects of finasteride may be permanent. 

In addition to persistent sexual dysfunction, some patients reported depression and suicidal ideation. The FDA has received hundreds of reports of suicide and suicidal thoughts among people taking Propecia. In response to patient advocates, the FDA eventually required changes to the drug label. This includes adverse reaction information about suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Are There Defective Drug Lawsuits Involving Propecia?

There have been more than 1,000 Propecia lawsuits filed against the drug maker Merck. This includes multidistrict litigation and class-action claims for undisclosed side effects. This includes sexual problems and persistent sexual side effects even after stopping the drug.

Patients suffering from adverse events after taking Propecia have filed product liability claims against the drug company for warning defects. 

A drug defect lawsuit is a type of product liability claim. Drug manufacturers are liable for injuries caused by drug defects. This includes design defects, manufacturing defects, and failing to warn patients. Drug makers can be liable for injuries caused by undisclosed dangers that they knew about. 

Some drug injury cases are related to manufacturing defects. This can happen when there are problems with the manufacturing process. This includes unsanitary conditions or undisclosed foreign matter in the drugs. For example, drug maker MasterPharm, LLC issued a recall of Finasteride Plus because of undeclared drug contamination. 

How Can a Drug Defect Lawyer Help?

When you decide to take a drug, you need all the available information to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks. You should know about the side effects and risks of taking the drug and if there are other alternatives. However, when a drug maker keeps the known health risks off the label, you can’t make informed decisions about what to take. 

If you suffered adverse health effects after taking dangerous medications, talk to an experienced defective drug lawyer about your legal options.