The spouse and two children of a man who committed suicide after using the hair loss drug Propecia have filed a lawsuit in California federal court.

The plaintiff’s husband began using Propecia for male pattern baldness in May 2008. He discontinued the drug in 2012, but still suffered from a deep depression. He struggled with insomnia and depression the following year, and eventually stepped in front of an oncoming Amtrak train, according to the Propecia lawsuit.

The first-of-its-kind lawsuit, filed on March 5, 2015 in California federal court, alleges that Propecia has known risks of depression and suicidal ideation, but from 1997 through 2010, the drug’s manufacturer did not include a warning about either risk on the Propecia label or in literature distributed with the drug.

The Propecia lawsuit alleges that the manufacturer, Merck, knew about the risks of Propecia depression and suicidal ideation (thinking about, considering or planning suicide) since it was approved by the FDA in 1997. It wasn’t until 2010 that the labels and literature mentioned a risk of depression. Suicidal ideation still is not included, even in small print, despite many reports and clinical studies of both depression and suicidal ideation.

The Propecia lawsuit further alleges that even though Merck knew or should have known about the dangerous side effects, the company promoted Propecia as a safe treatment for male pattern hair loss and failed to warn users of possible risks.

Propecia Side Effects

Propecia (finasteride) is a medication that treats male pattern baldness by inhibiting the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase. This enzyme is involved in the conversion of testosterone to the highly-potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and men who are taking Propecia may have 75 percent less DHT than normal. Unfortunately, this significant change to a man’s hormonal system could have unintended side effects, including sexual dysfunction, depression, and physical changes.

Experts know that androgens such as DHT undergo extensive metabolism in the brain, which could affect sexual and also non-sexual functions of the brain.

Depression is a reported side effect of Propecia, and the label on Propecia has carried this warning since 2010. However, it is unknown whether Propecia causes depression or how Propecia influences depressive behavior. Some cases of Propecia depression may occur as an indirect result of severe sexual dysfunction.

Studies of Propecia and Depression

A study published by Dr. Michael Irwig of George Washington University investigated depression and suicidal behavior among 61 men who were also suffering from persistent sexual dysfunction caused by Propecia or Proscar (finasteride).

Dr. Irwig found that the majority of these men also had symptoms of depression. Of the men studied, 11 percent had mild symptoms, 28 percent had moderate symptoms, 36 percent had severe symptoms, and 44 percent reported suicidal thoughts. This study emphasizes the serious nature of depression and the life-threatening risk of suicide.

If you experienced severe depression or persistent suicidal thoughts while taking Propecia, you are not alone. Many other men have suffered from the same symptoms, and are holding Merck accountable for not giving men all the information necessary to decide whether or not to take Propecia.