Propecia Erectile Dysfunction

In recent months, an increasing number of lawsuits have been filed around the country on behalf of men who claim to have suffered from erectile dysfunction (ED) and other serious sexual side effects after undergoing treatment with Merck’s popular hair loss drug Propecia. Now, a study has reported for the first time that Propecia does indeed cause prolonged bouts of erectile dysfunction, contradicting information provided by Merck. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that ED may continue long after quitting treatment with Propecia.

Free Propecia Erectile Dysfunction Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has developed erectile dysfunction (ED) or any other adverse sexual side effects after being treated with Propecia, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.

What’s the problem?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the repeated inability to achieve or maintain an erection during sexual intercourse. ED is different from other conditions that interfere with male sexual intercourse, such as lack of sexual desire (decreased libido), and problems with ejaculation and orgasm. Signs and symptoms of erectile dysfunction may include:

• trouble getting an erection
• trouble keeping an erection
• reduced sexual desire

ED varies in severity – some men are totally unable to achieve an erection, while others can only sustain brief erections. The wide range of issues related to erectile dysfunction makes estimating its frequency difficult. As well, many men are reluctant to discuss ED with their doctors due to embarrassment, and thus the condition goes widely undiagnosed. Nevertheless, it is estimated that ED affects some 30 million men in the United States alone.

Consult your physician immediately if:

• ED or other sexual side effects are an issue for you or your partner;
• you have diabetes, heart disease or other health problems that may be linked to erectile dysfunction;
• you have other symptoms that may not seem related.

Propecia Erectile Dysfunction Study

A recent study conducted at the Center for Andrology and Division of Endocrinology at The George Washington University investigated 71 otherwise healthy male test subjects between the ages of 21 and 46 years old. After using Propecia, these men reported developing sexual side effects that lasted for at least three months, even after discontinuing treatment. Specifically:

• 94% developed low libido;
• 92% developed erectile dysfunction;
• 92% experienced decreased sexual arousal;
• 69% developed problems having an orgasm;
• the average number of sexual episodes per month dropped from 25.8 to 8.8;
• the total sexual dysfunction score on a standardized test scale increased before and after using Propecia.

At the time the study was conducted, the average duration of Propecia sexual side effects was 20 months, with 20 percent of the test subjects experiencing issues lasting six years or more.

While Propecia labels in the U.S. currently warn about possible reversible sexual side effects, there is no reference to the effects being persistent. According to Merck, most men who experience erectile dysfunction or other sexual side effects from Propecia are able to bounce back quickly. “Resolution occurred in men who discontinued therapy with Propecia due to these side effects and in most of those who continued therapy. The incidence of each of the above adverse experiences decreased to ≤0.3 percent by the fifth year of treatment.”

“This is the first trial to show this medication can cause persistent sexual side effects,” says Michael Irwig, co-author of the study. “And the risk needs to be known when men are contemplating taking the medication and doctors are prescribing the medication. … The looming question for all the subjects is whether their sexual function will ever recover. Many of the study participants have developed anxiety and depression as a consequence of their sexual dysfunction and all reported a significantly decreased quality of life, especially with dating and intimacy.”

Propecia Erectile Dysfunction Lawsuits

To date, a number of Propecia erectile dysfunction lawsuits have been filed around the country. One such claim filed against Merck on behalf of men who had taken Propecia alleges the medication has serious side effects including erectile dysfunction and emotional difficulties. The lawsuit claims Merck failed to warn about these risks, even after regulators in Europe demanded a stronger warning label highlighting the problems with Propecia. An attorney for the plaintiffs argued that Propecia’s side effects have a devastating impact on the men who used the drug, and that despite Merck’s claims to the contrary, these issues can remain years after they stop using Propecia.

If you or a loved one has suffered from erectile dysfunction or any other serious side effect after using Propecia, you may qualify to be compensated for your injures. Do not delay – there is a limited amount of time to act. Please fill out the form below and we will have our lawyers investigate your potential Propecia lawsuit.

Do I have a Propecia Erectile Dysfunction Lawsuit?

The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Propecia erectile dysfunction lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Propecia erectile dysfunction cases in all 50 states.