Finasteride, a medicine used by men to treat hair loss (1 mg-dose, brand name Propecia) and benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate (5 mg-dose, brand name Proscar), has been reported to cause depressed mood, depression, suicidal thoughts and sexual dysfunction (including decreased sex drive and inability to ...
Regardless of the side effects, some people should avoid finasteride altogether. Women shouldn't take it because it can affect hormone levels. It's very important that women who are pregnant or could become pregnant don't handle finasteride, as it can lead to complications with pregnancy.
The priority for doctors is the health of their patients. Drugs like Finasteride can cause negative side-effects, some of which are irreversible, therefore that's why doctors are usually cautious about prescribing it.
Many men tolerate finasteride well, but some have complications including symptoms that persist after stopping the drug. Propecia's label says 3.8% of patients experienced one or more sexual side effects in Merck's clinical trial, compared with 2.1% who took a placebo.
What are the side effects of Finasteride? A small proportion of Finasteride users have reported unwanted side effects, such as [5]: Sexual and reproductive problems: erectile dysfunction, difficulties achieving an orgasm and ejaculating, diminished sex drive or infertility.
Celebrities such as John Travolta and Elon Musk have publicly acknowledged their use of finasteride. These revelations have paved the way for greater acceptance among fans and communities alike, encouraging those affected by hair loss to consider this treatment without feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
Taking finasteride may increase the risk that you will develop high-grade prostate cancer (a type of prostate cancer that spreads and grows more quickly than other types of prostate cancer) or breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking finasteride.
Dutasteride (Avodart)
Research shows dutasteride is more effective than finasteride for treating male pattern baldness. Studies directly comparing the drugs show that dutasteride regrew more hair than finasteride after 6 and 12 months of treatment.
The usual dose is 2.5 to 5 mg daily, but the results aren't as dramatic as in men. Because it can feminize a male fetus, women in childbearing years cannot use finasteride.
Third most common side effect of finasteride. Rate of gynaecomastia was 0.26/1000 patient-months of therapy.
Athletics. From 2005 to 2009, the World Anti-Doping Agency banned finasteride because it was discovered that the drug could be used to mask steroid abuse. It was removed from the list effective 1 January 2009, after improvements in testing methods made the ban unnecessary.
The bottom line
Common finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) side effects include a reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction. Depression, enlarged breasts in men, and orthostatic hypotension are also possible. Finasteride side effects are more likely with higher doses used for an enlarged prostate.
We suggest that long-term use of finasteride and dutasteride may be associated with health risks including NAFLD, IR, T2DM, dry eye disease and potential kidney disease.
The study authors noted that when asked for reasons for their decision, 55% of physicians said they were concerned about the risk of high-grade tumors and 52% said they did not know the drug could be used for chemoprevention.
This means that about 90% of men may benefit from taking Finasteride when looking at the appearance of the scalp hair. 10% of men may not benefit.
finasteride has been associated with depressed mood, depression, suicidal thoughts and sexual dysfunction (including decreased sex drive and erectile dysfunction)
Some people on T will also take finasteride (or dutasteride) to keep bottom growth minimal. Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone into a more potent androgen called DHT -- it is commonly used to prevent hair loss on the head (balding). Still, people have also used it to minimize bottom growth.
Patients taking finasteride might also experience increased urination. However, in the treatment of BPH (which often restricts urination), this can represent a return to healthy urinary flow.
Finasteride is generally safe to take for a long time. Many people take it for many months or even years without any problems. However, there have been reports of breast cancer in some men taking finasteride, but this is rare.
Women and children should not use this medicine. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle crushed or broken tablets. Finasteride can be absorbed through the skin and cause birth defects in male babies.
Whilst there is limited scientific data on this topic, the answer is very likely yes, you can still build muscle on finasteride. One study most relevant to this question investigated muscle mass changes in men taking synthetic testosterone, as well as dutasteride (a similar drug to finasteride).
Most men aged 18 years old or over can take finasteride. It's generally not recommended for women or children.