About the drugs:

Propecia and Proscar are the name brand forms of the drug finasteride, which works as a synthetic antiandrogen to block the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Since DHT is the androgen that is especially responsible for both male pattern baldness and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, finasteride it can be effective for both conditions.

Proscar is in a 5mg pill and was first approved by the FDA in 1992 to treat Benign Prastatic Hyperplasia. Propecia, approved later by the FDA in 1997 to treat male pattern baldness, comes in 1mg form. Finasteride, the generic form of the drug, can come in 5mg form or 1mg form to replace either of these drugs.

Failure to warn:

Both Proscar and Propecia are manufactured and marketed by Merck & Co., inc. In the United States, the labeling of both products has included:

"A small number of men experienced certain sexual side effects. These men reported one or more of the following: less desire for sex; difficulty in achieving an erection; and, a decrease in the amount of semen. Each of these side effects occurred in less than 2% of men. These side effects went away in men who stopped taking PROPECIA. They also disappeared in most men who continued taking PROPECIA."

An unknown percentage of men worldwide who took forms of finasteride have experienced numerous physical and mental side effects and, upon discontinuing use, expected to return to their previous state. However, even after discontinuing the drug, many of these individuals' endocrine systems were not able to return to normal. Even several years after taking the drug, many men are still experiencing these side effects to the same - or sometimes even worse - degree.

Labeling amendments have been made in other countries to include adverse event reports submitted by users of finasteride. These include, but are not limited to, warnings for persistence of erectile dysfunction, male breast cancer, and infertility due to seminal quality not returning to normal. Depending on the country, these changes can date back several years.

Despite receiving these reports and warnings from European regulators, Merck did not adjust the warning labels for the American market. Thus, Merck has been deceiving consumers of these drugs by failing to disclose the severity and potential longevity or permanency of the side effects. Many men took the drug with the impression that the side effects would be controllable when, in fact, they are not.

Has this affected you or a loved one?

Psychological side effects have also been reported to persist even after taking the drug. If you have taken Propecia, Proscar, or another form of finasteride and have experienced any of these side effects during and after taking the drug, you may be entitled to compensation.

• Erectile dysfunction
• Ejaculation disorders
• Sexual impotence
• Decreased volume/quality of ejaculate
• Numbness in sexual organs
• Testicular pain
• Enlarged and/or painful breast tissue
• Difficulty getting an erection
• Sexual anhedonia (ejaculation with no accompanied pleasure)
• Depression
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Social withdrawal/Anxiety/Lack of motivation
• Male breast cancer
• Bipolar mood disorder

What can you do?

If you believe you have been injured as a result of taking finasteride, please contact us by filling out our online contact form, or call our office for a complementary consultation.

You will be able to speak confidentially with one of our professionals who will be happy to help you. We have been handling dangerous drug cases for over 27 years. GoldenbergLaw has the resources and expertise to hold Merck accountable for their negligence and greed.