Two Merck drugs for treating male baldness and enlarged prostate will now carry extended labels to add more possible sexual side effects, US regulators said on Friday.
The changes involve Propecia and Proscar, both of which contain the active ingredient finasteride, after results from clinical trials showed additional adverse effects that were not included at the time of approval, the US Food and Drug Administration said.
The new Propecia label will include “libido disorders, ejaculation disorders, and orgasm disorders that continued after discontinuation of the drug,” the FDA said. Propecia is a drug to treat male baldness. Proscar, which treats symptoms of enlarged prostate, will now have a label that adds “decreased libido that continued after discontinuation of the drug.” In addition, both labels are being revised to “include a description of reports of male infertility and/or poor semen quality that normalised or improved after drug discontinuation,” the FDA said.
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Ryan O’Neal diagnosed with cancer
Love Story star Ryan O’Neal has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 70-year-old actor, who lost girlfriend Farrah Fawcett to cancer in 2009, has revealed he is now battling the disease, reported People magazine.
“Recently I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. Although I was shocked and stunned by the news, I feel fortunate that it was detected early and, according to my extraordinary team of doctors, the prognosis is positive for a full recovery.
“I am deeply grateful for the support of my friends and family during this time, and I urge everyone to get regular check-ups, as early detection is the best defence against this horrible disease that has afflicted so many,” a statement released by O’Neal reads.
— PTI