Family of suicide victim speak out against hair-loss drug Propecia

[gmonasco]

Randy Santmann was in his early 20s and he was losing his hair.

Like millions of other men suffering hair loss, he got a prescription for the drug Propecia.

Three years later in 2008, Santmann, just 22, killed himself. His Montgomery family says the Propecia is to blame.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20120521/NJNEWS/305210062/Family-Montgomery-suicide-victim-speak-out-against-hair-loss-drug-Propecia

[PatientlyWaiting]

They want to blame it on Propecia of course. They're not going to blame it on their stupid genes they passed on to their poor son.

[PatientlyWaiting]

If people really cares about hair loss sufferers killing themselves. Get a f-cking cure, right now, not in 5 years. Stop going around blaming these deaths on a pill's side effect.

[PatientlyWaiting]

I can wholeheartedly say, that finasteride has prevented ME from killing myself. It has definitely bought me extra quality time with my hair.

[john2399]

If only god for bid this happened to a celebrity than it would really get out there how terrible this disease is.

[SoothSayer]

They want to blame it on Propecia of course. They're not going to blame it on their stupid genes they passed on to their poor son.

Before Randy took his life, he wrote on the PropeciaHelp forum that it was the mental side effects that were causing his suffering (and not the hairloss as a consequence). Its really a shame that you are trying to personally blame him for the tragedy that affected his whole family.

[PatientlyWaiting]

I didn't blame him in any of my comments.

[2020]

They want to blame it on Propecia of course. They're not going to blame it on their stupid genes they passed on to their poor son.

you sound like Scorpion....

[Unterleigen]

What is with the guy claiming that the Propecia causes genital shrinking? I have never heard such a claim before. How is this even possible?

[25 going on 65]

What is with the guy claiming that the Propecia causes genital shrinking? I have never heard such a claim before. How is this even possible?

I don't know.
If you look at PropeciaHelp.com, there are claims of many "unheard-of" side effects from this drug. Some are probably legitimate fringe sides, while others are probably not (i.e. mistaking correlation for cause).

Needless to say, I'd reconsider my decision to take fin if I started losing volume "down there." But then, if I go bald, penis size will be the least of my worries.

[PatientlyWaiting]

you sound like Scorpion....

Scorpion is a great member of this site. He's a very funny person, i'll take that as a compliment. Thank you.

[PatientlyWaiting]

I don't know.
If you look at PropeciaHelp.com, there are claims of many "unheard-of" side effects from this drug. Some are probably legitimate fringe sides, while others are probably not (i.e. mistaking correlation for cause).

Needless to say, I'd reconsider my decision to take fin if I started losing volume "down there." But then, if I go bald, penis size will be the least of my worries.

Penis size doesn't matter. I once saw some show on HBO, about this male pornstar who had a small penis, and was bald too, and unattractive and he was like the best pornstar there supposedly. It's not the size, it's the skill I guess. He was like a veteran pornstar or something.

[jorbie]

Suicide

As a formerly healthy and successful 33 year old year old male, I can attest to the depression and mental side effects caused by Propecia. My genes are fantastic - no depression, health and attractive parents, and a sister that could be a model. Yet - in spite of my "genes", once I started Propecia my health began a slow descent that has continued even though I have been off the drug for over a year. I have often considered suicide - just to end the mental anguish this drug has put me through. Luckily for me - I have a great job at one of America's best high schools teaching physics - this gets me through most days. I can only hope for a cure for the suffering so many men are going through. If you are thinking of Propecia - PM me first. There is so much Merck isn't telling you.....just like the heart attacks that they didn't tell Vioxx patients about. Or the 10,000+ heart attacks deaths - maybe that was just bad genes too?

[534623]

There is so much Merck isn't telling you.....

Why? They tell you everything what's important to know about it ...

[jorbie]

Tragically I wish that was the case...if they had been honest then I never would have taken the drug.

By the way - its already been proven in the court of law that Merck misrepresented the side effects of its pain medication Vioxx - which led to the deaths of over 10000 people.

Propecia was on the market before Vioxx - so if Merck was dishonest about Vioxx....is it hard to believe they would lie about Propecia's side effects?

The European drug agency forced Merck to put strong warnings on Propecia in 2008....but Merck waited 4 years to put the same warning on the US version of Propecia. Explain that.....