Proscar Lawsuit Says Sexual Side Effects Persisted for 20 Years
By Andrea Gressman
A new Proscar lawsuit indicates that a man suffered from sexual side effects caused by Proscar, a five-milligram tablet designed to prevent hair loss. It is a pill form of finasteride, the active ingredient in many hair-loss drugs, including Propecia. Propecia is the 1 milligram tablet form of finasteride.
Pharmaceutical company Merck manufactured both Proscar and Propecia. The plaintiff filed a Proscar lawsuit on August 8, 2012 in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York. He claimed that even though 20 years has passed since he began taking Proscar, he still continues to suffer from sexual side effects. He began taking the drug in 1992.
The Proscar lawsuit represents another addition to the Propecia lawsuit MDL, created by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate Propecia lawsuits alleging injuries from prolonged finasteride sexual side effects. Judge John Gleeson is currently overseeing the Propecia/Proscar lawsuit MDL.
Lawsuit Says Proscar Caused Prostate Cancer and Sexual Dysfunction
The plaintiff’s Proscar lawsuit stated that in 1992 he began taking Proscar as treatment for his hair loss. However, he started suffering from many simultaneous side effects such as prostate cancer, sexual dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. More so, he claims that Merck neglected to give adequate warnings to patients highlighting potential risks of adverse Propecia and Proscar side effects. He is seeking compensatory, punitive, and double damages. He also seeks compensation with regards to interest, expenses, fees, and costs.
The Many Side Effects of Propecia and Proscar
The FDA approved Proscar in 1992. It went on to approve Propecia five years later in 1997, and by 1999, drug manufacturer Merck reportedly spent $125 in advertising costs to directly market the drug to men seeking to treat their hair loss. However, many men who used the drugs began to exhibit side effects that adversely affected their health. These side effects include the following:
* Anxiety
* Decreased sperm count
* Depression
* Erectile dysfunction (ED)
* Genital Shrinkage
* Impotence
* Loss of sex drive
* Low libido
* Male breast cancer
* Memory loss
* Prostate cancer
* Testicular pain
The labels for both Proscar and Propecia originally warned that side effects rarely occurred and didn’t last after the patient discontinued use. Studies, however, proved that side effects from either Proscar or Propecia can persist long after the patient discontinues use.
One study found that half of the men continued to experience Propecia side effects even after they stopped using the drug, with those side effects continuing for at least close to 3 and a half years after discontinuing use. What is more alarming is that this same study found that one in every five men were still suffering from Propecia side effects after they discontinued use of the drug. This fact led researchers to believe the side effects of Propecia, Proscar and finasteride may be permanent.
Filing a Propecia or Proscar Lawsuit
If you have experienced one of the many side effects, including the sexual side effects or cognitive impairment, it is very important that you visit the Propecia Loss of Sex Drive, Sexual Dysfunction Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation page. There are currently highly qualified Propecia, Proscar, and finasteride lawsuit attorneys that are here to provide plaintiffs with the best legal representation possible. Provide your information and receive your free consultation.
Updated October 10th, 2012
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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One thought on Proscar Lawsuit Says Sexual Side Effects Persisted for 20 Years
I took 5mg of Proscar daily for 10 years for treatment of an enlarged prostate. 6 years ago I began having trouble achieving &/or maintaining erections & achieving orgasms. My GP referred me to a urologist who diagnosed my sexual problems as Post-Finasteride Syndrome with hypogonadism. I quit taking Proscar 3 years ago & my sexual problems continue today. My problems appeared irreversible.