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Subscribe to RSSOriginally approved by the FDA to treat benign prostate problems, Propecia had a welcome side effect: hair growth. But the medication also has sexual side effects. Now, a new study says the medication may cause permanent problems. NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports.
Millions of American men use Propecia to combat baldness and grow hair. The medication, made by Merck, did $134 million dollars in sales last year. But tonight there are new questions about possible long-lasting sexual side-effects. NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman answers frequently-asked questions about the latest Propecia study, and the commonly-prescribed drug.
What is Propecia prescribed for?
Propecia is prescribed for male pattern baldness, a hereditary problem in which men lose hair on the crown and sides of their head. Propecia is the brand name of a drug called finasteride which is also marketed as Proscar for men with benign enlarged prostate. This occurs mostly in men over the age of 50 and is characterized by urinary problems.
What did today’s study find?
Today’s study out of George Washington University and published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine was done on younger men mostly in their thirties who were taking Propecia for hair loss. The study was small, involving only 54 participants, but they found that 96 percent of the men surveyed suffered some kind of sexual dysfunction even after stopping the drug, suggesting permanent damage. The sexual dysfunction included low libido, problems with arousal and difficulty with erections and orgasms.
How common are these side effects?
This year the FDA changed the labeling on Propecia to reflect the possibility of sexual side effects. Still, they’re not very common --clinical trials with the drug suggest sexual dysfunction in only 2 percent of men taking it. Conventional wisdom has been that most side effects were temporary, but today’s report raises questions as to whether the sexual dysfunction can be permanent.
Should I stop taking the drug?
Don’t stop taking any medication without talking it over with your physician.
How does it work?
Propecia belongs to a class of drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors that blocks the conversion of testosterone to the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (dht). What does that mean? It alters the testosterone effects on the body. For men with an enlarged prostate it works to shrink the gland. And as an interesting side effect it causes hair growth. But this is a drug only intended for men -- there is no medical reason to ever prescribe it to women or children.
Are there any alternatives for hair loss?
There are topical treatments out there to promote hair growth without serious side effects. It’s important to weigh the risks and benefits of any cosmetic treatment. Most men who take a drug for hair growth are doing so for self-esteem and to be more attractive. But is that benefit worth the risk of possible sexual problems? This is an important decision that should be discussed with your doctor and your partner.
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ALL OF THE MEN THEY SURVEYED ARE FROM AN INTERNET FORUM FOR PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS.
Asking a bunch of hypochondriacs about how healthy they feel is not science. The plural of "anecdotes" is not "data". It's irresponsible for you to report this as if it's common for people to experience these effects.
There is really no reason for you to think these individuals are hypochondriacs. In this era, it is reasonable and even intelligent to seek out an internet community if you are suffering from a poorly understood and rare condition. You may want to improve upon your reading comprehension skills because this article clearly states the study only involved 54 subjects, which does not indicate that this outcome is common. It is enough for me to never want to touch that drug though.
the info in this story is a couple yrs old , why is nbc or any news outlet just reporting on it now? im currently experiencing the same symptons but im not on proscar or propicia. i have been taking an over the counter DHT blocker from a major vitamin supplier.ive been taking testosterone replacement from my urologist for about 3 yrs and my DHT levels have been getting higher , and not wanting to lose all my hair started on DHT blockers. i read about the problems with the drugs and decided to go with a natural approach. now im wondering if all forms of DHT blockers cause these sexual side effects.
Would you want to go on record saying you have shrunken genitals due to taking Propecia? Believe me, the number of men who have experienced side effects from this drug is much higher than Merck would have you believe. Very few men come forward because it’s embarrassing. Merck has the luxury of silent victims. Additionally, how can an individual prove that the condition wasn’t pre-existing? Take measurements of your genitals before and after taking Propecia? The side effects are not short term…not long term….they are PERMANENT. I have talked to others who have taken the drug (I took it for about a year, five years ago) and they ALL have experienced permanent side effects. The effected number of men is much higher and this drug is much more dangerous than Merck would have you believe.
This is VERY real. I have a very good friend, who's been suffering sexual and cognitive problems, for five years after stopping the drug. Because of the frightening brain side effects he suffers with, he can't hold a job, and he has stated, that his entire cognitive perception of the world he used to know, is now gone. He describes the feeling of being completely disconnected with reality (ghost walking through life or like having a brain injury), vision changes, severe forgetfulness(amnesia) and severe memory problems. Sounds like he has early onset dementia or Alzheimer? Aside from killing your sexuality permanently, this crap can change your brain and have you in line for a disability check. My friend is only 23 and his life is destroyed! Stay away from this crap! Five years after stopping - no change in him.
Dangerous is an understatement!!!!
If you friend stopped taking it five years back, do you mean he started the medication years before he turned an adult, i.e. 18yrs? Can't imagine a doctor prescribing it at that age, and if they did, we have a bigger healthcare problem here than anyone imagines.
Well, the World knows now what it takes for Syria's Assad to get it up, and the genocide must stop now.
Yes, it is a serious concern, that he may use Chemical Weapons on the Syrian people and I am convinced that Saddam moved the WMD's later to Syria for safekeeping And the Fireworks would go off all at once, like
Well, the World knows now what it takes for Assad to get it up, and, yes, it is a concern, if he uses Chemical
Weapons on the Syrian people. And I am convinced that Saddam moved the WMDs later to Syria for
safekeeping. The genocide must stop now!
Since its approval in 1997, thousands of men have used Propecia to either regrow their thinning hair or maintain the hair they still have. The manufacturer of Propecia, Merck, represented to all men who used Propecia that certain side effects experienced while on the drug would “go away” once they stopped using it. Unfortunately, this happens to not be the case for hundreds, if not thousands, of men. A number of men have bravely stepped forward to seek justice for the injuries they have suffered from Propecia side effects. Propecialawyers.com is an integral site for those men injured by the harmful side effects of Propecia and finasteride and for those men who want justice for their injuries. Visit www.propecialawyers.com and click on our Propecia Lawsuits page and our Propecia FAQ page to learn more about how to enforce your rights.
The real issue here is this: Why is it that when BP's oil rig spews millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico, the company knows it has no choice but to react responsibly and compassionately toward those living in the area whose homes and livelihoods have been decimated--namely by cleaning up its mess and allocating billions of dollars to repairing the local economy. And yet, when Merck causes damage of equal scope to men the world over, the company is allowed to throw up an iron fence and say, "The victims have no proof that a crime has been committed. But if they insist on complaining, talk to the FDA -- and their doctors." After considering this, is there anyone on earth who has an ounce of respect for Merck CEO Ken Frazier? I for one cannot understand how his own wife and children inhabit the same home with such a sociopath. Personally, I'd chop off his manhood, toss it into the Gulf of Mexico, and when he cried for help, tell him to log onto the FDA's website and report his boo-boo.