This sucks getting Propecia Warning on National TV now

[bob13]

Just saw the first commercial to sue Merck on Fox news.
Man as a propecia user it makes my skin crawl to fear this kind of crap
after all the negative views all over the internet.
It will give you doubts all over again.
This is F____ed.

[chrisis]

I'm curious whether men can sue Merck if they took generic finasteride. I'm guessing no since it wasn't actually their product? Still, if Merck's trials turn out to be flawed maybe it's possible that ultimate liability would lie with them still.

[bob13]

I dont think so either Chris cause it just says Propecia.

[chrisis]

Makes sense at this early stage in proceedings.

However, if Merck lost the case on the basis of methodology of their trials, then it might open up further action by people who've taken the medication from other sources, because it wouldn't have been approved by the FDA otherwise.

[DAVE52]

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/drugs-for-enlarged-prostate--baldness-may-boost-risk-of--prostate-cancer-143400876.html

Drugs for enlarged prostate, baldness may boost risk of prostate cancer
By: The Canadian Press


Posted: 03/19/2012 5:42 PM

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning that certain drugs used to treat an enlarged prostate or male-pattern baldness may increase the risk of a serious form of prostate cancer.

The drug finasteride, sold under the brand names Proscar and Propecia and their generic equivalents, is prescribed to treat both enlarged prostate and male-pattern baldness.

Dutasteride, available under the brand names Avodart and Jalyn, is also used to treat an enlarged prostate, a condition also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Health Canada says finasteride and dutasteride may be associated with a higher risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer, an aggressive type of the disease that can grow and spread quickly.

The department says high-grade prostate cancer is rare, and the increased risk seen with finasteride and dutasteride is still considered very small.

The new safety information is based on a Health Canada review of two large international clinical trials that showed that long-term daily use of finasteride and dutasteride in men 50 and older was linked to a small increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer.

In the studies, long-term use was described as four years or more.

The risk was shown in the five milligram dosage of finasteride (sold as Proscar). The one-mg strength of the drug (sold as Propecia) was not included in these trials, but a potential risk has not been ruled out, Health Canada says.

The trials were conducted to see if the two drugs could be used to prevent prostate cancer. Both studies found the possible benefit of preventing low-grade prostate cancer was small compared to the risk of developing the high-grade form of the disease.

Finasteride and dutasteride are not approved for the prevention of prostate cancer in Canada.

Patients should discuss questions or concerns about treatment with finasteride or dutasteride with their doctor, and should not stop taking their medication unless advised to do