Press Release — ISHRS on Sexual Side Effects of Propecia
Press release from ISHRS:
International Society Of Hair Restoration Surgery Maintains Safety And Efficacy Of Propecia (Finasteride 1mg) For Male Hair Loss Is Backed By Proven Scientific Data
According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – the world’s leading medical authority on hair loss and hair restoration – recent anecdotal reports of persistent sexual dysfunction by some men who have used finasteride 1mg (Propecia) to treat hair loss should not define the safety and effectiveness of this drug. Propecia is the only oral medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hair loss in men.
From a scientific standpoint, there are no evidence-based data substantiating the link between finasteride and persistent sexual side effects after discontinued use of the drug in numerous, double blinded, placebo controlled studies conducted evaluating the use of Propecia 1mg for hair loss.
“As one of the 900 physician members of the ISHRS, the health and well being of our patients is our utmost concern – whether prescribing medications like Propecia or performing hair restoration surgery,we have treated hundreds of men suffering from hair loss with finasteride 1mg with virtually no side effects.â€
Since receiving FDA approval in December of 1997, 20.5 million and 6.7 million patient-years of exposure using Proscar and Propecia respectively are recorded with a low adverse event profile. The ISHRS believes that these are the most current and reliable data available until further studies are conducted.
Sexual dysfunction is a very complex disorder, and its incidence in the general population is known to be quite high – as high as 49% in middle-aged and older men according to one study published in 2006 in the Archives of Internal Medicine. That being said, we owe it to our patients to address valid concerns in a scientific manner and to clarify any misleading reports so that men can make informed choices regarding the use of this medication.
The ISHRS has called on the medical communities of dermatologists, hair loss physicians, urologists, endocrinologists and sexual medicine specialists to join in a colloquium to share all data and experiences with finasteride in a fact-based manner.
The above text is a press release sent to ISHRS member physicians to send out with individual doctors names attached. We’re posting it without the personalization, but we agree with what they’re saying about the lack of evidence-based data when it comes to persistent sexual side effects from Propecia.
Jeremy, the ISHRS is simply stating that based on information currently available, there is no evidence that supports the fact that Finasteride can cause permanent sexual dysfunction. Argue all you want, this is the truth. It seems like you also refused to acknowledge the final sentence, where they encourage doctors to share information they have on Finasteride so that as much data can be collected as possible. If new evidence is presented that change this fact, then the ISHRS, Dr. Rassman, and yes even I, I will acknowledge and agree with you. I take from your post that such information will be available in the next 2 months. You have been singing the same song for as long as I have read your posts, but I have yet to see anything materialize. I hope you don’t disappoint this time.
But what I don’t really understand is why do you automatically say screw these ISHRS guys, pull out your conspiracy theory card and immediately call them the bad guys? In case you hadn’t noticed, they are spending the time researching and studying the very disorder you are trying to get everyone to acknowledge. I will go right ahead and assume you are pissed because they didn’t reach the conclusion you wanted them to. And if they did, you would be singing their praises and posting links to this press release everywhere you went.
The study was simply not conducted in good faith. He merely called a few doctors who were not interested in speaking to a hair transplant surgeon that is on the board of Merck, the company that makes the drug he is pretending to investigate.
At the minimum, one would expect he would contact the FDA to check into post-marketing reports that are collected directly from Merck, doctors and patients. He did not venture do this as the conclusions would have been different.
I did not ignore the last statement, but it really means nothing. Just because he wrote they have an interest in collecting information from doctors does not mean that he is actively pursuing this type of information, especially when there is no notice on the ISHRS website. It is completely meaningless language.
Would you trust a company that was recently found guilty of criminal charges for marketing a drug that killed people to perform due diligence on their own product? If so, I have some magic beans I’d like to sell you….
I can say I feel less attractive since balding. Not a turn on.