Propecia Impotence

The best-selling hair loss treatment drug Propecia interacts with male hormones, and can affect sex organs in the body. Therefore, Propecia can cause a number of sexual side effects including impotence. According to Merck, these issues should resolve themselves once Propecia treatment is discontinued, but many men have become permanently impotent after stopping the drug.

Free Propecia Impotence Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has become impotent or suffered any other sexual side effects after undergoing treatment 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?

According to new research, men worried about losing their hair may be at risk of losing far more than that if they take Propecia. A study published in the March 2011 issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that between five and 23 percent of men who take the drug may become impotent and have lowered sex drives because of the active ingredient finasteride. In some cases, severe sexual dysfunction persisted even after Propecia was stopped.

For those men, “it’s a life sentence,” said lead researcher Abdulmaged M. Traish, a professor of biochemistry and urology at Boston University School of Medicine.
“No sex. No desire. Potential depression,” Traish added. While nearly everyone who takes Propecia will experience some sexual side effects, certain individuals experience them more severely than others.

The study examined the available medical literature for reports of sexual side effects associated with finasteride and dutasteride, the active ingredient contained in Avodart. The results found that approximately 8% of men taking the drugs reported erectile dysfunction, and 4.2% reported reduced libido, compared with 4% and 1.8% receiving a placebo, respectively. The research also noted reduced ejaculation and semen volume, as well as severe depression in some men.

First approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992, Propecia is a prescription drug manufactured and marketed by Merck & Co. to treat male-pattern baldness. Its main active ingredient is finasteride, which is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI). In 2008 alone, Propecia earned nearly $430 million for Merck.

What is impotence?

Achieving an erection is a complex biological process, requiring sexual sensations from the genital area to be transmitted to the nervous system, which are then returned to the penis in the form of nervous impulses and dilated blood vessels. Anything that interferes with this interaction can make achieving and maintaining an erection difficult. Also known as erectile dysfunction (ED), impotence is a common condition that occurs when a man cannot sustain an erection long enough to have sex, or cannot have an erection at all. Impotence affects an estimated 15 million men each year around the country.

According to the National Kidney & Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), impotence is not a normal consequence of aging. Approximately 70% of erectile dysfunction is due to diseases such as diabetes and atherosclerosis, and another 10% to 20% is due to psychological factors. The remaining percentage can be attributed to lifestyle factors, injury, and prescription medications like Propecia.

When a man is suffering from impotence, it may cause emotional pain and issues between him and his sexual partner. If left untreated, ED can not only cause long-standing physical complications but self-esteem problems as well.

Luckily, impotence is usually treatable. Once the cause of the issue is determined, treatment can be tailored to target the root of the problem and any other contributing factors. Treatment for impotence may include drugs, vacuum devices, surgical intervention and/or psychotherapy.

Injured by Propecia? Act now.

Because impotence can severely affect an individual’s health and quality of life, it is important to consult your healthcare professional immediately if you have trouble achieving or maintaining an erection. With increasing discussion of the topic, coupled with advances in treatment, men are now much more comfortable talking with their doctors about erectile dysfunction than at any time in the past. Impotence is not a medical emergency, but it may be associated with diseases that can have serious complications.

The Propecia impotence lawyers at Schmidt & Clark, LLP are leaders in the area of defective drug litigation. We have the extensive knowledge and resources needed to represent our clients efficiently and aggressively. If you or a loved one has suffered from impotence or other sexual side effects after being treated with Propecia, fill out the form below to get in touch with our attorneys today. There is a limited amount of time in which to file a claim, so that’s why it is important that you act now.

Do I have a Propecia Impotence 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 impotence lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Propecia impotence cases in all 50 states.