New Warning for Finasteride

The Food and Drug Administration has modified the labeling information for the hair loss drug Propecia and the prostate medicine Proscar. Both drugs contain finasteride. The labels for both medications now specify that sexual difficulties associated with the drug may linger even after it is discontinued. Problems with libido have been reported with both medications.
The FDA has also required the manufacturer, Merck, to warn that some men taking either medicine have experienced infertility or poor semen quality. These apparent side effects seem to resolve after the drug is stopped. Prior to this change, erectile dysfunction was named in both labels as a potential side effect. The FDA announcement pointed out that only a small percentage of men using these drugs have experienced a sexual adverse event and emphasized that the agency considers finasteride safe and effective for the approved uses.