Man Suffering Propecia Side Effects Protests at Merck Headquarters

A Las Vegas man is trying to bring attention to the risk of sexual dysfunction associated with side effects of Propecia, staging a “hunger strike” protest outside of the drug maker’s New Jersey headquarters.

Kevin Malley, 30, began camping outside of the Merck & Co.’s corporate offices earlier this week, indicating that he stopped eating on May 13 at 3 p.m. to protest the drug maker’s failure to acknowledge that their hair-loss drug Propecia may cause a number of serious side effects, including persistent erectile dysfunction and other problems.

The former public-health researcher indicates that Propecia ruined his life after he started taking the drug last year to combat hair loss. After only five months, he indicates that he began to suffer complete erectile dysfunction and loss of libido.

Although Malley stopped taking the drug and has not used Propecia for eight months, he indicates that the sexual side effects have continued and he has also suffered severe memory loss and disorientation.

Malley blames the Propecia (finasteride) for causing his fiancée to break off their engagement and also cost him his job, as a result of his inability to remember or concentrate.

“I want Merck to see how their drug is destroying lives — and know that I’m just one of thousands of victims suffering across the globe,” Malley said in a press release issued on Propeciahelp.com, an informal support forum for men who have experienced persistent sexual, mental and physical side effects after taking Propecia, or the higher dose version sold as Proscar, for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Propecia side effects have been linked to erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, testicular pain, depression and cognition problems. For years, Propecia label warnings in the United States suggested that such side effects were temporary. Although Merck issued updated label warnings in other countries that indicated some men report experiencing permanent problems, they failed to update the U.S. label until earlier this year.

Malley said he has tried to contact Merck about his condition, known as Post-Finasteride Syndrome, but was told the company had no answers for him.

A number of men throughout the United States are currently pursuing a Propecia lawsuit against Merck for failing to adequately warn about the risks associated with the medication.  Many plaintiffs allege that if they had been provided with accurate information about the risk of long-term sexual dysfunction, they never would have taken the prescription drug to help restore hair loss and improve their appearance.