12 citations
,
September 2017 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” This review analyzes how androgens impact sexual desire and reproductive behaviors, emphasizing molecular interactions, but provides no new clinical results.
58 citations
,
April 2017 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” This study found that patients with post-finasteride syndrome exhibited major depressive disorder, severe erectile dysfunction, and neuropathy, alongside altered neuroactive steroid levels in cerebrospinal fluid.
50 citations
,
March 2017 in “PeerJ” This study found that longer exposure to 5α-reductase inhibitors significantly increased the risk of persistent erectile dysfunction, especially in younger men exposed to finasteride.
8 citations
,
February 2017 in “Clinical Drug Investigation” This paper discusses the adverse effects of finasteride, including sexual dysfunction and depression, and suggests that treatment customization based on individual factors like hand preference and sexual orientation could improve outcomes and reduce these side effects.
14 citations
,
October 2016 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” This study identified significant changes in the expression of nine proteins in the nucleus accumbens of rats treated with finasteride, suggesting potential novel targets for its neuropsychiatric effects.
50 citations
,
September 2016 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” This study found no evidence of androgen deficiency or decreased peripheral androgen action in men with persistent sexual symptoms after finasteride use, but identified links to depressed mood and abnormal brain function.
19 citations
,
September 2016 in “Pharmacotherapy” This study found that the risk of persistent sexual dysfunction was higher in men who stopped using finasteride 1 mg compared to omeprazole users.
21 citations
,
April 2016 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” This paper discusses the potential relationship between finasteride's adverse effects and factors like hand preference and sexual orientation, suggesting these could influence risk in male androgenic alopecia treatment, but reports no new clinical results.
31 citations
,
February 2016 in “American Journal of Men's Health” This study found that nearly half of men using finasteride reported clinically significant depression, highlighting the need for psychiatric screening and careful risk assessment by prescribing clinicians.
43 citations
,
January 2016 in “International Journal of Andrology” This study found that men experiencing long-term symptoms after finasteride use for androgenetic alopecia frequently reported loss of penis sensitivity and anhedonia, among other effects, indicating potential post-finasteride syndrome.
33 citations
,
January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders” This review examines medical literature on postfinasteride syndrome and reports no new results; the authors call for more controlled studies on permanent sexual dysfunction and mood changes linked to 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.
123 citations
,
December 2015 in “Journal of Neuroendocrinology” This review discusses recent strategies targeting the neuroactive steroid biosynthetic pathway to enhance neurosteroidogenesis, highlighting their potential benefits for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, but reports no new clinical findings.
33 citations
,
December 2015 in “Neuroendocrinology” This study found that subchronic finasteride treatment in male rats altered neuroactive steroid levels and steroid receptor expression in the brain, with some changes persisting after drug withdrawal.
15 citations
,
November 2015 in “Pharmacopsychiatry” This review discusses sexual dysfunction as a side effect of α-blockers and 5-ARIs for BPH/LUTS, highlighting methodological flaws in existing studies and the need for more rigorous research.
49 citations
,
September 2015 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” This study suggests that the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride modulates sensorimotor gating in rats by affecting D1 and D3 receptors, but not D2 receptors, with varying effects based on genetic strain.
111 citations
,
August 2015 in “Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders” 5α-reductase inhibitors may cause persistent sexual dysfunction and depression, needing more research on long-term effects.
69 citations
,
July 2015 in “Pharmacotherapy” This study found that low-dose finasteride use in young men was associated with higher reporting of persistent sexual dysfunction, with some cases linked to suicidal ideation.
31 citations
,
March 2015 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” This review discusses the complexity of neuroactive steroid therapies for neuroprotection and reports no new clinical findings, suggesting potential unexpected effects in the brain compared to systemic levels.
36 citations
,
June 2014 in “PLOS ONE” This study found that men with persistent sexual side effects after using finasteride for androgenetic alopecia had higher androgen receptor expression in certain tissues compared to those who never used the drug.
81 citations
,
June 2014 in “American Journal of Men's Health” This study highlights that adverse effects from finasteride may persist in men after discontinuation, indicating a potential "post-finasteride syndrome.
61 citations
,
April 2014 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” This study reports that men with androgenic alopecia experience altered neuroactive steroid levels associated with persistent depression symptoms even after stopping finasteride treatment.
2152 citations
,
November 2013 in “Urologia Internationalis” This study reviews the significant prevalence of organic etiologies, especially vascular causes, in erectile dysfunction among men under 40 and emphasizes thorough evaluation and consideration of treatment options like exercise and PDE-5 inhibitors.
73 citations
,
July 2013 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” This study observed that androgenic alopecia patients taking finasteride had altered neuroactive steroid levels and persistent depression symptoms even after stopping the treatment.
27 citations
,
June 2013 in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research” In this study, 65% of men with persistent sexual side effects after stopping finasteride reported a reduction in alcohol consumption, echoing findings in rodent models.
71 citations
,
November 2012 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” This article reviews the reported sexual and psychological side effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for benign prostatic hyperplasia, emphasizing the need for further clinical studies.
13 citations
,
November 2012 in “PubMed” This study found that in men with sexual dysfunction, use of 5ARI may reduce sexual drive and spontaneous erections without worsening pre-existing erectile or ejaculatory issues.
134 citations
,
August 2012 in “The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry” This study found that former finasteride users with persistent sexual side effects reported significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts compared to controls.
112 citations
,
July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” In this study, 96% of men with persistent sexual side effects from finasteride reported continued dysfunction after discontinuation, suggesting these effects may endure long-term.
44 citations
,
July 2012 in “Endocrine Practice” This review highlights the need for a deeper understanding of 5alpha-reductases and neuroactive steroids to reduce potential adverse effects of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors used for conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenic alopecia, but reports no new clinical results.
53 citations
,
October 2011 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Finasteride may help improve certain brain function issues linked to dopamine.
185 citations
,
March 2011 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” This study found that 94% of healthy men reported low libido and 92% reported erectile dysfunction as persistent sexual side effects after using finasteride for male pattern hair loss, with these effects lasting on average 40 months post-discontinuation.
223 citations
,
December 2010 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” This review discusses persistent adverse effects of 5α‐reductase inhibitors, like diminished libido and erectile dysfunction, in some patients and highlights the need for patient discussions before therapy, especially for androgenetic alopecia.
99 citations
,
October 2006 in “BMC clinical pharmacology” This preliminary study suggests that finasteride might cause depressive symptoms, indicating the need for cautious prescription in patients at high risk for depression.
137 citations
,
March 2006 in “Cns Drug Reviews” This review explores finasteride's effects on neuroactive steroid levels and their potential influence on disorders like depression and alcohol withdrawal but reports no new clinical findings.
88 citations
,
October 2002 in “Journal of Dermatology” In this study, 19 patients treated with finasteride for androgenetic alopecia developed moderate to severe depression, which resolved after stopping the medication, suggesting an association between finasteride and mood disturbances.
309 citations
,
June 2001 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” Mutations in the androgen receptor gene cause androgen insensitivity, leading to female traits in genetically male individuals.
581 citations
,
October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” In male pattern hair loss, this study found that finasteride 1 mg daily significantly slowed hair loss and increased hair growth over two years compared to placebo.
