CHICAGO -- One of the topics under discussion among sexual medicine specialists, gathered here from around the world, is whether the sexual side effects of a hair-loss drug are long-lasting, according to a leader in the field.
Arthur Burnett, MD, of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and president of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, said the finasteride (Propecia/Proscar) side effect controversy is one of the highlights of this year's World Meeting on Sexual Medicine, hosted jointly by his organization and the International Society for Sexual Medicine.
Last April, FDA demanded labeling changes for finasteride, which is marketed as Propecia for hair loss and as Proscar for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The agency said the drug has been tied to libido disorders and poor semen quality that some say disappear when the drug is stopped -- although other researchers say the effects could be more permanent.
In an exclusive interview, Burnett talks about the controversy, as well as other hot topics from the meeting, including new medical therapies for erectile dysfunction.