Persistent Gynecomastia due to Short-term Low-dose Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia
April 2024
in “JCEM case reports”
TLDR A man's breast enlargement from low-dose finasteride for hair loss didn't go away, even with treatment, and might be more common than reported.
The document discusses a case of a 20-year-old man who developed persistent gynecomastia (enlargement of a man's breasts) after taking a low-dose of finasteride for one month to treat androgenetic alopecia (hair loss). Despite discontinuing the drug and undergoing treatment with raloxifene, the gynecomastia did not fully resolve, leading to surgical intervention. The document also reviews 9 reported cases of gynecomastia due to low-dose finasteride, with 38% of these cases resulting in persistent gynecomastia. The document suggests that this side effect may be underreported and emphasizes the importance of patient education about this risk. It recommends immediate intervention with a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM) if gynecomastia develops during therapy to prevent irreversible effects.
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