Peyronies disease is a rare complication of Propecia (finasteride)
Merck’s controversial hair loss drug Propecia (generic: finasteride) has been linked to penile fibrosis, a serious sexual disorder which is also known as Peyronie’s disease. This condition can cause severe genital malformation, as well as persistent urological problems. Signs and symptoms of Propecia-induced penile fibrosis may include excessive curvature of the penis, pain during intercourse, erectile dysfunction, indentations in the penis, and genital shrinkage.
In the tens of thousands of prescriptions I have written, no one has ever presented with this condition to me, which to me means that this is a very rare side effect. The incidence of this problem in the general population is reported to be as common as 13%. I do not examine men with an erection so unless they reported this problem to me, I would not know if they had developed it on the drug. I mention this because it is my responsibility to post any such possibility that links the drugs I prescribe to conditions that it may produce.
Hi there,
Thanks for the info of Peyronie’s disease. i am going to visit doctor ASAP.
Thanks
My experience with propecia is going on ten years. Early on when taking the drug I did experience some very limited sexual side effects (things were about ten percent more difficult). But, after taking the drug for an extended period of time most of the small side effects disipated. I started with less hair than I have now. So I’m a happy camper. Thanks for your blog. Been reading it these past 10 years.
-Mike
If the incidence of this condition is as high as 13% of men, and it is now being reported as a rare occurrence of finasteride in the postmarking setting where single case reports go to the FDA, how does one then conclude it is a causal side effect of finasteride (when not reported during controlled clinical trials)?
Dr. Rassman, what prompted this latest post? Is there a new article out that inspired you to put up this latest post?
If Propecia can cause peyronies disease, which sometimes occurs with erectile dysfunction as you mention, does this validate the claim that Propecia causes persistent erectile dysfunction in rare cases?