Propecia Linked to Prostate Cancer

The FDA recently notified all healthcare professionals that the precautions section of labels for 5-aplha reductase inhibitor class of drugs should now include new safety information of the increased risk in prostate cancer. The more popular prescription drug in this category is called Propecia.

According to the PubMed Health Journal, the FDA reviewed two large trials dubbed the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) and the Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial. The group of medications included in these studies were Finasteride (Proscar/Propecia), Dutasteride (Avodart) and Dutasteride in combination with Tamsulosin.

Propecia in particular is approved to treat male pattern hair loss. Many men across the country have taken Propecia to stop hair loss. Propecia is not used to treat hair loss in women or children and does not treat thinning hair at the temples. The medication works to treat male pattern hair loss by blocking the body’s production of any male hormones in the scalp that would stop hair growth.

The PubMed Health Journal recommends the following precautions be taken before taking Propecia:

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to (Propecia) Finasteride or any other medication;
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take as your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects; and
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.

Finasteride is only for use by men. Women who are, could become, or may be pregnant should not take Finasteride or touch broken or crushed Finasteride tablets.

Side effects caused by Propecia include: inability to have an erection; decreased sexual desire; pain in the testicles; and decreased volume of semen. Now, there is an additional risk – developing prostate cancer.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms after taking Propecia please feel free to contact our attorneys for a free case evaluation at (800) 641-0098.