Finasteride Use Is Associated with Higher Odds of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Results from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System

The study found that finasteride use was significantly associated with higher odds of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared to other drugs in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) database. The reporting odds ratio (ROR) for OSA with finasteride was 5.65, indicating a strong disproportionality. Additionally, finasteride use was linked to a greater than expected reporting of insomnia (ROR = 1.93). The study suggested that patients experiencing post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) symptoms might benefit from further sleep evaluations to rule out OSA. However, the study acknowledged limitations such as potential selection bias and underreporting in the FAERS database.