Florida plaintiff Jeffery S. is suing Merck & Co. for allegedly causing him to suffer permanent sexual complications after being prescribed Propecia. Jeffery claims that in direct result of using Propecia, he suffered avoidable impairments of his libido functions, which may permanently compromise the plaintiff’s sexual activity.

Like millions of other middle-aged men in America, Jeffery had been suffering from male-pattern baldness and had been prescribed Propecia to treat it. After reviewing the defendant’s advertisements, Jeffery’s physician had recommended Propecia under the assumption that it would be the best treatment option of hair loss. At no point before or after the plaintiff’s prescription did Merck warn his physician about the possible sexual impairment side effects, according to the Propecia lawsuit.

It is also important to note that before being prescribed Propecia, the plaintiff had no history of sexual dysfunction or cognitive impairment. At all times during his time on Propecia, Jeffery reportedly followed all prescription instructions and followed the advice of his physician.

Despite his diligence, it was not long after starting Propecia that the plaintiff started noticing a significant change in his daily life. Jeffery found that he was suffering from severe libido dysfunction, and has had trouble even maintaining any bit of sexual activity to this day.

Jeffery complains that even after ending his prescription with Propecia, the sexual dysfunction has not ceased and has caused a constant imposition in his life. According to the Propecia lawsuit, there were no warnings or indications on the drug’s label, nor were there any relevant studies provided. The plaintiff had no reason to believe he was at risk for any of these Propecia side effects.

Therefore, Jeffery is filing legal action against Merck for failing to warn him against the possible dangerous of their product. Jeffery’s lawyers state that Merck & Co. had the civil responsibility to warn their client and other consumers of all potential Propecia side effects. Jeffery insists that he never would have used Propecia if he had known about the possibility of sexual dysfunction.

For being allegedly responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a dangerous drug, Jeffery is suing Merck & Co. The charges include: negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

Propecia Complications

Ever since the FDA approved Propecia in 1997, it has been prescribed to over 1 million patients in the United States to treat male pattern baldness. Propecia’s predecessor, Proscar, had often been prescribed to treat male pattern baldness for off-label treatment, but Merck decided to manufacturer Propecia for that specific treatment purpose.

According to experts, male pattern baldness effects 30 percent of men in the United States by the age of 30, and goes up to 50 percent of men by 50. Over the years, Merck has earned millions of dollars in sales from Propecia, after advertising it as an effective way to combat hair loss in men with minimal risk and side effects.

Additionally, men would often seek out a Propecia prescription because men with hair loss could be perceived as older and less attractive, according to experts. However, it was not long after its release that men complained of suffering from decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorder, and even bouts of depression.

Male pattern baldness is caused by a combination of genetic factors and a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the hormone primarily responsible for diminishing the hair follicles, which causes the hair to detach from the head. DHT is produced when the chemical substance 5-alpha reductase reacts with normal testosterone, transforming into dihydrotestosterone.

Finasteride, the main ingredient in Propecia, naturally inhibits 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that decreased the production of DHT, which prevents hair loss. However, experts believe this natural interference of testosterone production causes severe hindrance in the patient’s natural sex drive.

According to published clinical studies, the rate of sexual dysfunction in Propecia patients is as high as 39 percent. Despite the numbers, Merck & Co. have neglected to inform the patient population and medical community.

The 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.