Post Propecia Syndrome
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- Created on Monday, 21 November 2011 14:24
Up to five percent of men suffer from serious sexual side effects from taking the hair loss drug Propecia. These side effects most notably include loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, impotence, and Gynecomastia; although next week we’ll explore many more serious (but less publicized) side effects that past/current users of Propecia need to be aware of.
Many negatively affected men were assured by their physicians that even if they were one of the 2% who experienced such side effects, they would simply just have to stop taking the drug and everything would go back to normal. For the majority of men experiencing negative side effects, this held true. Unfortunately, for many it did not - the side effects remained even after stopping all use of Propecia. In some cases they developed side effects after terminating their use of the drug.
What is Post Finasteride (Propecia) Syndrome?
This syndrome refers to the persistence of sexual side effects that were previously thought to go away after cessation of the medication Propecia.
To understand how Propecia works and why it may lead to permanent side effects, please review the following: http://www.cateslaw.com/blog/50-understanding-side-effects-of-propecia
To summarize, Propecia is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. By blocking 5-alpha reductase, Propecia blocks the conversion of testosterone into the more powerful androgen DHT. This reduces androgenic activity in the scalp, treating hair loss at its hormonal source.
It is the alteration at the horonal source that some believe is leading to these permanent side effects. To learn more, Dr. Michael S. Irwig from George Washington University has published a study on persistent Finasteride (Propecia) side effects in young men aged 21-46: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02255.x/abstract
After interviewing several patients, Dr. Irwig found that 20% who experienced persistent sexual dysfunction, had symptoms that lasted for more than 5 years. He also concluded that of the 5% of men that experienced negative sexual side effects from Propecia, there was no way to quantify how many of those would experience persistent symptoms.
Should I be concerned and what recourse do I have?
First and foremost, if you are experiencing side effects that you feel may be related to Propecia, stop taking the drug immediately and speak with your physician. If you’re past that point and still suffer from negative side effects, you may very well have recourse. Merck, the manufacturer of Propecia, may have knowingly under-represented the number, duration, and magnitude of many of the side effects that Propecia causes. It is very much in your best interest to contact a qualified Propecia Lawyer as soon as possible to at least keep all of your options open – especially since you don’t know if you’re going to end up with persistent or even permanent side effects.
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