What is Propecia used for?
Propecia is a drug used mainly to treat male pattern baldness and enlarged prostates which was produced by the American company Merck & Co.
During the initial drug trial stages, the scientists discovered that the drug aided hair growth. Therefore in 1997, Propecia was specifically approved for use of treating male pattern baldness along with being used to treat excessive hair growth in women as a part of hormone therapy for transgender women.
This drug is not provided on the NHS but can be requested privately or purchased over the counter. The drug can also be sold and prescribed under alternative names such a Proscar and Finasteride.
Propecia Side Effects
All medications have a risk of side effects. Unfortunately, not all the side effects are noted on the medication. A known side effect of Propecia is mainly impotence and erectile dysfunction; said to affect 1.5% of men who take this medication.
Further side effects can include:
- Changes in sexual function
- Tenderness and rash around the nipples
- Swelling in breasts, hands, and feet
- Weakness and dizziness
However, as early as 2009, there had been reports of Propecia being linked to suicidal thoughts and depression. A request had been made at this time to include depression and suicidal thoughts as potential side effects to the medication. Ultimately, this was refused by Mereck in the USA. In 2011 a decision was made not to include these potential side effects.
Since 2011, there have been over 700 reports of suicide and suicidal thoughts. This number included at least 100 deaths in America. Merck considered that there was not enough medical evidence to include this as a side effect, as such it was decided not to warn the consumer of the potential risk.
European and Canadian regulators also cited similar concerns as the USA, however this was included in the list of side effects. American agencies have still yet to list depression as a side effect and there is an ongoing investigation into this.
You may have a claim if you suffered an illness caused by side effects of a given medication, if a healthcare professional and/or public body did not warn you of said side effect. This illness could also include a change in your neurological function or your mental health.
Injuries could also have been suffered as a result of incorrect labelling or prescription of medication. Please see Prescription or Medication Errors | Oakwood Solicitors Ltd for more information.
How do I make a claim?
You may feel that a medical professional has prescribed you medication, or you have bought an over the counter drug, and have not been informed of the possible side-effects. If this has happened to you then you could be entitled to compensation.
The team at Oakwood Solicitors Ltd will be able to give you free advice on the prospects of your case and whether you would be eligible to make a claim.
How soon must I commence my claim?
You have three years to bring about a claim from the initial prescription date or from the date you became aware that the medication was the cause of your problems, so do not delay.
We add that this three-year period will not apply to everyone and therefore if you believe you have been affected, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss this aspect further.
How long will my case take to run?
Given the complexities involved in pursuing Clinical Negligence claims, they can often take 18-24 months to conclude and longer if Court proceedings have to be issued. Our investigations start by obtaining all relevant records and protocols before approaching independent medical experts for their opinion.
We will provide you with regular updates on the progress of your case to ensure that you are kept up to speed.
How much is my claim worth?
It is often difficult to value clinical negligence claims at their outset given the complexities involved, however we will pursue two forms of compensation for you:
Firstly, we will pursue compensation known as general damages. This is an award of money for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the negligence.
Secondly, we will pursue compensation known as special damages. This is an award of money for all of your out-of-pocket expenses such as travel expenses, medication costs, loss of earnings or treatment costs both past and future. This list is not exhaustive and is very case-specific.
Why choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd to make your medical negligence case?
We have a dedicated team of solicitors and paralegals who have many years’ experience running cases of this nature. They are highly trained to deal with all aspects of clinical negligence.
We want to ensure at Oakwood Solicitors that clients are not overwhelmed by legal jargon (medical terms that they don’t understand), and to allow the claims procedure to be as transparent as possible.
How is my case funded?
The majority of clinical negligence cases are funded by a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), more commonly known as a ‘no-win, no-fee’ agreement. This means that there will be nothing to pay upfront and nothing to pay if the claim has been lost.
If you are successful in your claim a deduction of 25% of damages will be taken to cover the success fee and the shortfall in legal fees.
It may also be the case that an After the Event (ATE) insurance policy will be obtained to cover the costs of expensive medical reports and investigations. If an ATE insurance policy has to be obtained, the cost of this will be discussed with you at the appropriate point.
The cost of the ATE insurance policy is again taken from your damages and only payable if you are successful with your claim.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Get in touch today for a free initial consultation in complete confidence. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9787 to find out how we can help you.
What is Propecia used for? Propecia is a drug used mainly to treat male pattern baldness and enlarged prostates which was produced by the American company Merck & Co. During the initial drug trial stages, the scientists discovered that the drug aided hair growth. Therefore in 1997, Propecia was specifically approved for use of…
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