Risks and Lawsuits for Popular Hair Loss Drug Propecia

For some people, a bald head is a statement. 

For others, thinning hair is a source of insecurity. They might be drawn to long-running ads for Propecia (generic: finasteride), a popular hair-loss treatment. And while the promise of a thick head of hair is appealing, it’s not without some health concerns. 

Propecia was so widely advertised, in fact, that it almost became the butt of jokes. But as it turns out, it’s no laughing matter.

What are the side effects of Propecia?

Finasteride—the generic formulation of Propecia—blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is involved in hair loss and prostate issues.

The side effects that are the subject of Propecia lawsuits are sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and decreased libido, and depression, suicidal ideations or other mental health issues. For some men, these issues continue even after they stop taking Propecia.

Merck, the manufacturer of Propecia, has said that the problems result from pre-existing conditions and other risk factors.

Propecia lawsuits

Pharmaceutical lawsuits claim that Merck did not adequately warn patients about the drug's potential risks. There are allegations that Merck was aware of the severity and prevalence of serious side effects and downplayed them in clinical trials. 

One former Propecia patient’s widow filed a lawsuit, claiming the drug caused severe depression that ultimately led to her husband’s suicide at age 40. John Pfaff had taken Propecia, but stopped when he began to feel like they were negatively affecting him. But even after going off the drug, he experienced sleeplessness, unusual anger toward his children, sexual dysfunction, and despair. His widow, Kelly, described him as a once-successful executive, skier, and loving father before he began the downward spiral. 

He disappeared one morning while his wife was on a short errand. He had stepped onto railroad tracks near their home in the path of an oncoming train and was killed on impact. 

This is just one of many Propecia lawsuits. 

In fact, as of 2021, there were more than 10,000 reports of serious adverse events associated with finasteride. 

One factor contributing to safety concerns around Propecia is that the courts have allowed certain documents and filings to be sealed. 

When documents are sealed, it means records remain confidential and they are not publicly viewable. Sometimes courts seal records to protect a company’s trade secrets or other information that could damage its business.

Propecia lawsuits allege the following:

1. Inadequate warnings. Plaintiffs allege that Merck did not adequately inform plaintiffs about the potential risks of Propecia, which include sexual dysfunction and depression. The FDA has since included suicidal ideation as an adverse reaction to finasteride. 
2. Understated clinical trial data. Claims include that Merck downplayed the severity and prevalence of these effects in clinical trials. 
3. Failure to act. One lawsuit is against the FDA, claiming it did not act on a petition to remove Propecia from the market after it was found to have serious risks to patients.

Is Propecia still available?

Yes. You may obtain Propecia or its generic equivalent, finasteride, only with a prescription from a physician. It may not be purchased over-the-counter. 

Other products, such as Rogaine (minoxidil) and hair transplants, are also available for hair loss and male pattern baldness.

Questions about Propecia’s safety aren’t new… so why is it back in the news?

One reason isn’t because of anything different about Propecia itself—it’s about how men obtain prescriptions for the medication. 

More and more Americans are getting their prescriptions from telehealth providers. 

Telehealth companies like Hims and Keeps provide prescriptions for Propecia and other drugs without advising patients of the risks of serious side effects. Although Hims customers are interviewed as a “comprehensive intake that is reviewed by a licensed provider who makes a clinical determination about the patient’s eligibility for medication,” according to the company, customers claim they did not know the risks. 

In one instance, a 27-year-old scientist received a prescription for finasteride from telehealth provider Keeps. He experienced erectile dysfunction while using the drug and stopped. Shortly thereafter, he began suffering from panic attacks that required hospitalization. According to the telehealth company’s own records, he was not counseled about side effects before receiving the prescription. 

Hims is a telehealth company that started in 2017. It’s specifically for men and is intended to sell hair loss and erectile dysfunction drugs. A patient would complete a questionnaire about their overall health, choose the drug they want, a clinician will review and prescribe, and the medication arrives by mail. The patient and clinician may communicate through messaging in the company’s app. 

Both Hims and Keep target men in their 20s and 30s with hair loss ads on television and social media. 

None of this suggests that telehealth is bad or doesn’t have a valid place in medical care—for some people, telehealth is crucial and life-saving. The issue is that these particular companies allegedly did not inform patients of the risks of using Propecia. The drug is also available through telehealth companies like Walgreens Virtual Healthcare and Blink Health.

Propecia lawsuit settlement

In April 2018, Merck settled the majority of Propecia lawsuits at the time. It agreed to pay a $4.3 million lump sum to be divided among the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs agreed to drop their claims and avoid discussing their settlements. The settlement agreements are sealed, so the public has only limited access to information about the risks. Fewer than 25 cases remain pending after the 2018 settlement. 

Merck has publicly maintained that there is no link between Propecia and suicide or suicidal ideation and this should not be included in drug warnings.

Can I join a Propecia lawsuit?

If you’ve been harmed by Propecia (finasteride), you might be able to join a class action lawsuit. 

You need to contact a personal injury attorney for guidance. Be prepared with your medical records and evidence of harm suffered, as well as records that indicate how long you’ve been taking Propecia and when you started and stopped. 

A personal injury attorney can review your claim and guide you through the process of seeking compensation for your losses.