A popular hair loss drug has been found to cause serious sexual side effects which may be permanent in some users. Propecia® (the generic is finasteride) is an oral prescription medication to treat baldness in men. The drug works by suppressing the production of a male hormone, dihydrotestosterone.
Evidence has been growing that Propecia® is causing sexual dysfunction in a small but significant number of men, including lowered libido, erectile dysfunction and less ejaculate. Tenderness and enlargement of the breasts and tenderness of the testicles was also found. Depression also seems to be a side effect in some men.
Data published in March in the Journal of Sexual Medicine indicate that these side effects are occurring in a much greater number of men than previously thought. More significant is that some types of sexual dysfunction persist even after the drug is stopped, according to the study.
The study was conducted by Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Michael S. Irwig from George Washington University and Dr. Swapna Kolukula of the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Dr. Irwig first became aware of these problems when he met several men who complained they developed sexual dysfunction while taking Propecia® and said that their problems persisted after they stopped taking the drug. Many of these men had gone to their doctors seeking advice and were told to see psychiatrists and psychologists and that their problems were all in their head, Dr. Irwig told George Washington Today, a university publication.
For part of his study, Dr. Irwig interviewed 71 men between 21 and 46 years old in order to find out how long they took Propecia® and the kind and duration of sexual side effects they experienced. He found 94 percent of the participants suffered decreased sexual interest, 92 percent had erectile dysfunction, and 69 percent had problems reaching orgasm.
While the men used finasteride for an average of 28 months, the researcher found sexual problems lasted an average of 40 months. The study raises concerns as to whether the sexual side effects are long term and even permanent in some users.
