Persistent Sexual, Emotional, and Cognitive Impairment Post-Finasteride

    June 2014 in “ American Journal of Men's Health ”
    Christine A. Ganzer, Alan M. Jacobs, Farin Iqbal
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    TLDR Finasteride can cause lasting sexual, emotional, and cognitive issues, with varying severity.
    The document is a survey of men who reported experiencing persistent sexual, emotional, and cognitive impairment after taking finasteride, a medication used to treat male pattern hair loss. The study found that adverse effects persisted in each of these domains, indicating the possible presence of a "post-finasteride syndrome." Symptoms range from minor to severe, including chronic fatigue, gynecomastia, muscle atrophy, thinning skin, and sexual changes such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and impotence. The study suggests that further investigation may be warranted to understand the role of finasteride in the development of cognitive changes reported after stopping the medication. The study recommends that prescribers should caution patients prior to initiation of finasteride therapy for MPHL on the potential for adverse effects of unknown duration.
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