Delaware plaintiff Ronald L. is suing Merck & Co. for allegedly causing him to develop severe sexual dysfunction after using Propecia. Ronald alleges that in direct result of using this baldness treatment drug, he developed persistent problems with his penis and general libido function.

Like millions of middle-aged and elderly men across America, Ronald had begun experiencing male-pattern baldness and had been continually losing hair. After reviewing the advertisements of product by the defendant, Ronald’s physician prescribed him Propecia, having no reason to believe this drug would pose any danger to the plaintiff.

Ronald was prescribed Propecia in 2008, and initially had no bad reactions to the drug. He reportedly used it within prescription instructions, and followed the advice his physician. Despite this diligence, Ronald had unexpectedly developed severe sexual dysfunction that had completely eliminated his libido, according to the Propecia lawsuit. Even after discontinuing Propecia in 2011, Ronald still continues to suffer from all complications attached to sexual dysfunction and cognitive impairment.

At no point before, during, or after his Propecia prescription did the defendant inform him or his physician about the possible Propecia sexual impairments that could be caused by their product, the Propecia lawsuit alleges. There were no warning or indications on the product’s label, and it lacked any references to relevant studies. Therefore, Ronald is taking legal action against Merck & Co. for failing to protect him against the side effects of Propecia.

Ronald states that, after suffering numerous embarrassing side effects and worsening his overall quality of life, he never would have used Propecia if he had known about the risks attached to this baldness drug. The plaintiff’s lawyers state that Merck had the civil responsibility of warning their client and other Propecia patients of all side effects attached to the drug, because they rely on the accuracy of the given information.

Ronald is suing Merck & Co. for allegedly manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a dangerous product. The charges include negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

This Propecia lawsuit is In Re: Propecia (Finasteride) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2331, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Overview of Propecia Complications

Ever since its release in 1997, Propecia (Finasteride) has become one of the most popular treatment methods to treat male-pattern baldness. Finasteride, the product’s main ingredient, can also be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, making it vastly useful to the older men in America. Over 1 million people have been prescribed Propecia since its release, and it has reportedly been successful in treating male-pattern baldness. Unfortunately, it was not long after its release that patients and their families discovered some awkward consequences that came with Propecia use.

According to American medical statistics, male-pattern baldness affects about 30 percent of men by age 30, and increases to 50 percent when they reach the age of 50. Male-pattern baldness is primarily caused by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for shrinking the hair follicles in the head. Experts explain that as men age, dihydrotestosterone is manufactured at a higher amount and when it interacts with the chemical substance 5-alpha reductase it converts normal testosterone into DHT, which causes the hair loss.

However, experts also explain that by effecting the natural testosterone levels in men, it can lead to sexual dysfunction complications. According to clinical studies, Propecia causes 39 percent of patients to suffer sexual dysfunction, as well as cognitive impairment. Despite the severity of these risks, Merck chose not to elaborate these risks when marketing Propecia.

Many Propecia lawsuits allege that the product caused permanent complications in the plaintiffs’ sexual lives, and that they persisted long after ending their prescriptions. Furthermore, these plaintiffs allege that Merck knew about the risk of sexual dysfunction, but did not warn consumers to ensure the market value of their product.