Propecia Sexual Side Effects MDL Adds Another Plaintiff

A Propecia sexual side effects lawsuit has been added to the consolidated federal litigation proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York before Judge John Gleeson. This complaint lists a slew of life-threatening side effects that the plaintiff allegedly developed as a result of taking the defendants’ medication.

The complaint, which was initially filed in the Western District of Oklahoma, was transferred to the Propecia multidistrict litigation (MDL) via a Conditional Transfer Order signed by the Judge on May 15, 2013. The MDL centralizes federal complaints pending against Merck & Co., Inc. for the purposes of increased efficiency in litigation proceedings and avoidance of duplicative discovery.

Plaintiff diagnosed with cancer

The plaintiff first began to use Propecia (finasteride), a medication designed and manufactured by the defendants, in 2005 when he was 53 years old. He regularly used the medication as prescribed for an unspecified period of time. Propecia was initially developed for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which refers to an enlarged prostate. However, in 1992, the FDA approved its use for the treatment of male pattern baldness.

While using Propecia, the plaintiff claims that he developed adverse side effects including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and severe sexual dysfunction. The plaintiff was also diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease, which refers to penile disfigurement, and gynecomastia, which refers to enlarged breast tissue in men. The plaintiff has also suffered from Propecia cognitive impairment problems.

Prior to his using the medication, he had not suffered from any of these serious issues. Although the plaintiff stopped taking the hair loss drug, he continues to suffer from adverse side effects. According to this Propecia sexual side effects lawsuit, the plaintiff also suffers from a “diminished capacity for natural reproduction,” depression, and significantly reduced quality of life.

Propecia sexual side effects cited in clinical studies

The lawsuit points to several studies that have demonstrated a link between Propecia and the development of sexual side effects. In 2009, after reviewing the available data, the Swedish Medical Products Agency found that Propecia use could cause permanent erectile dysfunction. The U.K.’s medical regulating body added to this evidence in 2009, noting that Propecia could cause erectile dysfunction even after the patient discontinued the drug.

Furthermore, in a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, researchers found that the prevalence of Propecia sexual side effects is higher than expected and that these effects can persist after the drug is no longer being used. This finding is contrary to claims made on the Propecia patient insert on products sold in the U.S.

Attorney claims Merck failed to warn

The plaintiff’s Propecia lawyer contends that the drug manufacturer should be held liable for failing to adequately warn patients and healthcare professionals of these risks. The lawsuit claims the labeling information is inadequate and misleading, and that the negligence of Merck has directly led to the patient’s life-threatening medical problems.

Additionally, this complaint claims the drug had not been adequately tested before it was sold to patients. It suggests that had the patient’s doctor been aware of the risk of serious side effects, a safer and effective alternative could have been prescribed.