Merck Hit with New Propecia Lawsuit Over Side Effects
By Courtney Coren
A new Propecia lawsuit was filed by a Utah man in Federal court in April who claims he started experiencing cognitive impairment, depression and sexual dysfunction after using the hair loss medication.
The Propecia (finasteride) lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey under Judge Anne E. Thompson on April 10 of this year. However, the lawsuit was later moved to the multidistrict litigation currently underway in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York. An MDL still allows the plaintiff to have his own individual jury trial, but it also allows for resources to be shared by Propecia patients who have had similar side effects by consolidating pretrial proceedings.
According to the Propecia lawsuit, the plaintiff began using the drug to treat his male pattern baldness in 2005 at age 38. Up until that point, the plaintiff had never been diagnosed with cognitive impairment, depression or sexual dysfunction. After using Propecia, he was diagnosed with all three. After coming down with these serious Propecia side effects, he stopped taking the drug. However, all of the Propecia side effects remained. The lawsuit also states that using Propecia resulted in a lower quality of life and an increase in pain and suffering.
Other Propecia lawsuits also claim that the male pattern baldness drug have had similar side effects that have persisted even after the patients stopped using the medication. Other side effects that have been reported are suicidal thoughts, psychological trauma, anxiety, loss of memory, loss of concentration and insomnia.
The Propecia lawsuit charges Merck & Co. with making a drug that was defective in design and unreasonably dangerous. It also charges Merck with having knowledge about the potential side effects, but not adequately warning doctors and patients. The lawsuit also claims that Merck did not properly label the hair loss drug.
The U.S. Drug and Food Administration has received over 400 reports of Propecia sexual dysfunction since it was introduced to the market with 60 of those patients reporting that they experienced persistent sexual side effects after they stopped using Propecia. In 2011, Merck was ordered by the FDA to update Propecia’s warning label to reflect the complaints of sexual side effects that were reported.
In June 2011, the FDA advised Merck to update the Propecia warning label to say that “erectile dysfunction . . . continued in patients after discontinuation of treatment.” It had previously been reported that erectile dysfunction was a Propecia side effect, but that it would stop after treatment was ended.
After reviewing more Propecia side effect reports, as well as relevant studies concerning side effects from patients taking Propecia from 1998 to 2011, the FDA found sexual dysfunction in patients who were prescribed Propecia to last up to 40 months after the they stopped using the drug.
There are currently more than 400 Propecia lawsuits pending against Merck claiming that the male pattern baldness drug not only causes serious sexual side effects, but that the problems continue even after the patient stops taking the drug.
If you or someone you know has experienced similar symptoms while taking Propecia, legal options are available. Learn more and get a free legal consultation regarding a claim’s eligibility at the Propecia Loss of Sex Drive, Sexual Dysfunction Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation. Experienced legal professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether or not this male pattern baldness drug played a role in loss of sexual function, so act now.
Updated May 28th, 2013
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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8 thoughts onMerck Hit with New Propecia Lawsuit Over Side Effects
Developed sexual problems after using Finasteride. That is the generic form which is 5mg not the 1mg of the Propecia brand name. Cannot find any legal representative for me as The Supreme Court has ruled about 3 years ago that a generic drug manufacturer cannot be sued. Rally unfair decision, no doubt influenced by ” Big Pharma “. Some things really stink in this country—money of course is #1—and humans are expendable.
Anybody know of any concern that can assist? I have been told that there are exceptions to court decisions. I sure am open to information.
I’m taking Propecia for more than 12 years and I personally have no adverse side effects. I think it the same for the majority of people taking this drug.
I began to loose my hairs when I was 28 years old and it was a real hell for me. I was very very bad and I began a depression. Propecia helped me to go better and to retrieve a smile. I couldn’ imagine to do without it.
Each medication has its benefits on one side and its risks/potential side effects on the other side. OK to request a clear indication on the known side effects (and on the fact that some unknown others can exist) but each person must have to choice to continue with this medication or not according to its own expectations and to its own estimation of the risks/benefits balance. Positive effects and the number of happy users is not sufficienlty mentioned and should also be published in order to give a more fair picture of the situation.
Did Merck send you here?
Don’t lie here we all know how you developed gynecomastia and erectile dysfunction of the worst kind even your peenis shrink and lost your hair you cock sucker.
I had the same chaotic side effects, lost my job, lost my family, lost my parents, lost all my friends. I began to think I need to buy a gun and end it because I could not live with myself anymore. I even bought a gun to prepare for the moment when I would just have to end it. However, I abruptly stopped Propecia last year in July and started myself on Turmeric. I started eating 2-3 table spoon Turmeric daily. I believe my side effects are slowly disappearing. A couple months ago I sold my gun. Today after watching Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s Weed documentary on CNN, I think that might be another option to help promote the healing and find complete freedom from the side effects. I have started using Aloe Vera in my hair and noticed some improvement in my hair loss. Even if Propecia was the only way out, I rather live with sanity then to have hair but go insane!
They are criminals against humanity and they will get their fair share – what goes around comes around…
I have these side effects too. The URL on this page doesn’t work.
http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/investigations/2384-propecia-loss-of-sex-drive-sexual-dysfunction-class-action-lawsuit-settlement-investigation
I have these side effects too. The link on this page doesn’t seem to exist.
http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/investigations/2384-propecia-loss-of-sex-drive-sexual-dysfunction-class-action-lawsuit-settlement-investigation
contact me on propecia
I experience some of these new side effects found on propecia.