A married couple field a Propecia lawsuit against drug maker Merck & Co., alleging that the male pattern baldness drug causes severe sexual side effects.

Plaintiffs Jeff A. and Mary A. filed the Propecia lawsuit against Merck, claiming that Jeff began taking Propecia in 2001 when he was 51-years-old to treat his hair loss.

He began taking the medication in January 2000 and discontinued its use in January 2005, after experiencing sexual side effects. Jeff claims that neither he nor his physician were adequately warned by Merck that he would continue to suffer from these sexual side effects even after he stopped taking the drug.

While undergoing treatment with Propecia, Jeff was diagnosed with erectile dysfunction and sexual dysfunction. Up until Jeff filed this Propecia lawsuit, eight years later, Jeff still suffered from sexual dysfunction and cognitive impairment, the Propecial sexual dysfunction lawsuit says.

This has led to a diminished quality of life, as well as pain and suffering, and as a result, Jeff requires ongoing treatment of his medical conditions from using Propecia.

Jeff and Mary have brought forth multiple counts against Merck including strict liability, defective design, failure to warn, negligence, breach of express and implied warranty, fraud, fraudulent concealment, violation of unfair and deceptive trade practice acts and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

The Propeica Lawsuit is Case No. 1:13-cv-04012-JG-VVP in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York.

Propecia Use

Finasteride was a drug first used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in men and was later used to treat androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) under the name Propecia.

About 30 percent of males aged 30 are affected by hair loss, climbing to 50 percent for males aged 50. Hair loss is believed to be caused by a combination of genetics and individual variations in hormones.

Propecia Side Effects

Propecia has a number of undesirable side effects. Even after discontinuation of the drug, these side effects may persist indefinitely.

Some of the more commonly reported side effects include:

• Sexual dysfunction that may begin during treatment and persists after discontinuing treatment
• Lack of sexual arousal and desire
• Erectile dysfunction
• Premature ejaculation and other ejaculation disorders
• Delayed, dulled orgasm or inability to reach orgasm
• Breast Cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Male breast development
• Cognitive impairment

With respect to the sexual side effects of Propecia, studies have reported that up to 39 percent of men having these adverse affects.

A study in 2003 found that only half of men who experience the Propecia side effects have a resolution in their symptoms after stopping Propecia.