Stop hair loss today. But read the fine print first

A 26-year-old man from Edinburgh, Scotland, has claimed that he has become completely impotent after taking anti-baldness drug finasteride, known as Propecia in the United Kingdom, reports the BBC.

Propecia, a prescription pill, has proven effective in clinical trials with nine out of 10 men using the drug reporting no more hair-loss over a five-year period. The drug's manufacturer, Merck, claims on its website that only less than 2 per cent of users are affected by possible side-effects, including difficulty in achieving an erection.

But the website does say that the side effects will go away for those who stop taking the drug. However, some doctors in Ireland and the United States say the drug's labelling is inadequate and believe users who suffer sexual side-effects are more common than suggested.

James (not his real name) told the BBC that he started researching Propecia when he noticed increased hair-loss and "freaked out". He started using the drug and "it worked a treat". When he noticed his interest in sex began to droop, James stopped his dosage. But he soon had an even bigger reason to panic.

"After about three weeks (of stopping) all hell broke loose. I more or less became completely impotent," he said.

James went to a specialist a few months later and was put on testosterone therapy, a lifelong commitment. Six months of that did not work either, James claimed, and so was offered the chance of a penile implant.

"Every day I wish I could turn back the clock," he said. "It did work well for my hair but the cost is ridiculous - losing my sex-life. It's happening to lots and lots of men and it's about time people woke up to it."

Merck has said they continually monitor their drug's safety and recently changed its labelling after some users reported lingering sexual side effects even after stopping their dosage.

But they also claim that cases like James' are extremely rare and that there could be other causes for the impotence.

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Stop hair loss today. But read the fine print first

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