Propecia
US, Canada and Puerto Rico
Since Propecia was first approved in 1997, there’s been a longstanding battle between manufacturer Merck & Co and the regulatory agencies seeking to protect the public. Since the beginning, Merck admitted to a small (less than 2 percent) risk of Propecia sexual dysfunction, but maintained that these side effects would go away once the medication was discontinued.
Men taking the drug were experiencing something different, however. This first came to light in 2008 when Sweden indicated that their investigation showed irreversible Propecia-related sexual dysfunction. They pressured Merck into updating the warnings on the label, but the company refrained from making any similar changes in the United States until 2011 when they finally added similar verbiage to U.S. products.
PROPECIA'S LINK WITH PROSTATE CANCER
Propecia was in the news again in early summer 2011 when the FDA warned of the small increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer for men taking the hair-loss drug.
Propecia (finasteride) is one of a family of drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), all of which affect male hormones to treat both male-pattern baldness and enlarged prostate. Scientists have long indicated that these drugs may have a protective effect against prostate cancer, and a recent study showed that they were right. Men taking finasteride did experience an overall reduced risk of prostate cancer, but in a surprise finding, they also had a slight increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer.
CURRENT LAWSUITS
August 2011 marked the first Propecia sexual dysfunction lawsuit in the U.S., and today the number of cases continues to increase both in the U.S. and Canada. Propecia lawyers are likely to blame Merck for failing to warn of the seriousness of these side effects, and particularly for updating European warning labels without giving American patients the same information.
COMMON PROPECIA SIDE-EFFECTS
- impotence
- abnormal ejaculation volume
- abnormal sexual function
- gynecomastia or breast enlargement
- erectile dysfunction
- ejaculation disorder
- and testicular pain
If you or someone you love used Propecia and have experienced any of the listed sided effects or have developed prostate cancer after having used Propecia, let our experienced lawyers, specializing in the Propecia help you get the settlement you deserve.
Call us now at 1-800-RESULTS (1-800-737-8587). Or Email us for more information.
Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC is a national law firm covering all fifty states as well as Canada, Puerto Rico and all American possessions. No matter where you live, we will have an experienced lawyer, specializing in Propecia represent you.
