A recent study of Propecia and Proscar discovered that the medications may cause decreased testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction. Researchers at The Boston University School of Medicine compared men taking finasteride (Proscar, Propecia) to Flomax (tamsulosin) for enlarged prostrate treatment.

The study followed a group of 700 men for nearly four years, recording their testosterone levels and prostate improvement. Study results showed that men taking finasteride had a serious decrease in testosterone levels and a significant decline in erectile function. The men using Flomax did not experience either of these side effects.

Propecia Sexual Dysfunction

Finasteride is the active ingredient in both Propecia and Proscar. In 1992, the FDA approved Proscar to be used as a treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostrate). The FDA later approved a one-milligram tablet of finasteride, marketed under the name Propecia, as a male hair loss treatment.

Studies show that Propecia is an effective treatment for androgenic alopecia, commonly known as male pattern baldness, in about 50 percent of men. Finasteride works by blocking enzymes in the scalp and sexual organs to convert testosterone into the sex steroid dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, researchers in multiple studies have found that if finasteride does not convert testosterone correctly, Propecia side effects could include sexual dysfunction. 

In addition to the recent study by Boston University School of Medicine, which found a steady decline in testosterone levels and erectile function, another study performed by researchers at the same university found that 15 percent of men taking Propecia reported decreased libido and erectile dysfunction. Other medical studies have have found Propecia sexual dysfunction side effects occur in 39 percent of men taking the medication.

Finasteride Side Effects

In 2012, the FDA required Propecia’s manufacturer Merck to include the risk of sexual dysfunction on its warning label. The label now includes the warning that the drug may cause “libido disorders, ejaculation disorders, and orgasm disorders that continue after discontinuation of the drug.”

Propecia lawsuits claim that Merck knew the sexual dysfunction side effects could be permanent since the company added that warning to their Swedish drug labels in 2008, four years prior to the FDA mandated label change.

According to recent Propecia lawsuits, the hair loss treatment has also been linked to other side effects including breast cancer, depression, and prostate cancer.

Growing Number of Propecia Lawsuits

Over 1,240 Propecia lawsuits have been filed across the nation, and a Propecia mass litigation movement has been consolidated in the state of New York, with many plaintiffs alleging the drug caused “persistent sexual dysfunction.”

Plaintiffs claim they were unaware that taking Propecia or Proscar would cause erectile dysfunction or a decline in sex drive. Many plaintiffs are seeking financial compensation for loss of consortium, which is the loss of intimacy with your partner. Spouses who file as co-plaintiffs in Propecia lawsuits can also sue for loss of consortium as well.

Plaintiffs who have similar allegations can join a Propecia class action lawsuit, which often times is a discreet way to obtain financial compensation for damages caused by the medication.