11 citations
,
August 2019 in “BMJ” This article reviews ongoing concerns about the safety of 5α-reductase inhibitors like finasteride, highlighting the lack of long-term data on persistent depression and sexual side effects after drug discontinuation; no new clinical results are reported.
8 citations
,
July 2019 in “Endocrine connections” This study found that post-finasteride syndrome patients showed a tissue-specific methylation pattern of the SRD5A2 promoter in cerebrospinal fluid, potentially affecting neuroactive steroid levels and related behavioral symptoms.
10 citations
,
May 2019 in “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” This study found that finasteride treatment in male rats altered steroid hormone homeostasis and caused kidney damage, suggesting potential risks for patients with renal dysfunction on androgen or antiandrogen therapy.
29 citations
,
April 2019 in “BMJ. British medical journal” This study concluded that men with benign prostatic hyperplasia receiving steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors, such as dutasteride or finasteride, have a higher risk of developing new onset type 2 diabetes compared to those taking tamsulosin.
11 citations
,
March 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This review identifies evidence of sexual adverse effects, particularly linked to finasteride, in men using systemic dermatologic medications but reports no new clinical findings.
38 citations
,
February 2019 in “Clinical Interventions in Aging” This meta-analysis found that dutasteride was more effective than finasteride in increasing hair count and improving photographic assessments for men with androgenetic alopecia, while both drugs had similar rates of sexual dysfunction-related adverse effects.
14 citations
,
January 2019 in “Skin appendage disorders” This paper discusses the first reported case of post-finasteride syndrome in a long-term dermatotrichology setting, occurring in a 25-year-old male after dutasteride treatment, and highlights possible links to mental health disorders.
20 citations
,
August 2018 in “The World Journal of Men's Health” This review summarized existing research on finasteride and erectile dysfunction, finding a correlation between finasteride use for benign prostatic hyperplasia and ED, but not strongly for male androgenetic alopecia.
8 citations
,
July 2018 in “Current Sexual Health Reports” This review discusses post-finasteride syndrome, emphasizing its serious psychological and cognitive symptoms and the need for more research and awareness in the medical community, but provides no new clinical findings.
35 citations
,
June 2018 in “Urology” This study of FAERS data suggests that finasteride, particularly at the 1 mg dosage, is associated with a wide range of adverse effects not previously established in long-term studies, especially among younger men.
54 citations
,
May 2018 in “International journal of risk & safety in medicine” This study observed enduring sexual dysfunction reported in 300 cases globally following the use of SSRIs, finasteride, and isotretinoin, with common symptoms like genital anaesthesia and loss of libido.
40 citations
,
April 2018 in “Endocrine” This review discusses post-SSRI sexual dysfunction and post-finasteride syndrome, highlighting unknowns about their true incidence and underlying causes, and reports no new clinical results.
4 citations
,
April 2018 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride for female hair loss has low side effects, more research needed.
7 citations
,
March 2018 in “Dermatology and therapy” This study found that Italian dermatologists commonly prescribe 1 mg/day finasteride for androgenetic alopecia despite reported sexual side effects, due to its perceived long-term efficacy.
9 citations
,
January 2018 in “American Journal of Men's Health” This study analyzed self-reports from discussion forums to categorize and understand adverse effects experienced by individuals using finasteride, suggesting a need for further investigation into post-finasteride syndrome.
11 citations
,
January 2018 in “International Journal of Trichology” This commentary reviews the post-Finasteride syndrome and argues that while the condition's validity is debated, comprehensive guidelines are needed to address related risks and treatment options; it reports no new clinical results.
1 citations
,
June 2017 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride use may cause sexual dysfunction; more research needed.
66 citations
,
April 2017 in “International Journal of Andrology” This study found that 5α-reductase inhibitors significantly increase the risk of erectile dysfunction and hypoactive sexual desire in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, compared to placebo.
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.
178 citations
,
April 2017 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This systematic review and meta-analysis found that minoxidil, finasteride, and low-level laser light therapy significantly improve hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia, while minoxidil is also effective for women, compared to placebo.
90 citations
,
March 2017 in “JAMA Internal Medicine” In this study, older men using 5α-reductase inhibitors for prostatic enlargement did not show increased risk of suicide, but had elevated risks of self-harm and depression.
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.
21 citations
,
January 2017 in “Dermatology Online Journal” This review discusses the sexual side effects of finasteride and dutasteride, two 5-α-reductase inhibitors, and reports no new clinical findings while calling for further research into dosage differences.
14 citations
,
December 2016 in “Sexual Medicine” This study identified differences in adverse symptoms among patients with post-finasteride syndrome based on short and long androgen receptor gene polymorphisms.
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.
30 citations
,
September 2016 in “BMJ” This study found that 5-α reductase inhibitors do not significantly increase the risk of erectile dysfunction in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia or alopecia, although duration of benign prostatic hyperplasia may elevate risk.
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.
33 citations
,
August 2016 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” In this study of men with androgenetic alopecia, dutasteride was shown to be more effective than finasteride in increasing hair count and reversing hair miniaturization over 24 weeks, with both treatments displaying similar side effect profiles.
57 citations
,
July 2016 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” This study concluded that 5α-reductase inhibitors were linked to increased sexual dysfunction in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, but not in men with androgenetic alopecia.
8 citations
,
May 2016 in “Indian Journal of Pharmacology” This case report describes an atypical postfinasteride syndrome in a patient treated with both dutasteride and finasteride for androgenic alopecia, highlighting its multisystem involvement and irreversible nature.
2 citations
,
March 2016 in “The Journal of Urology” This study found that the 1 mg dose of finasteride was associated with a wide range of adverse effects, including sexual, psychological, and metabolic symptoms, in the FAERS data.
32 citations
,
February 2016 in “Journal of Dermatology” This study found that in Japanese male patients with androgenetic alopecia, dutasteride 0.5 mg daily over 52 weeks was associated with improvements in hair growth and appearance, with reported adverse events mostly mild.
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.
2 citations
,
January 2016 in “Andrology” This case report study presents two instances of post-finasteride syndrome, highlighting the persistence of sexual adverse effects despite discontinuation of the drug, and underscores the need for increased awareness and understanding of this condition.
19 citations
,
January 2016 in “Annals of Dermatology” This study found that dutasteride 0.5 mg was generally well-tolerated and led to overall improvement in male patients aged 18 to 41 with androgenic alopecia in a Korean clinical practice setting.
11 citations
,
October 2015 in “Dermatology and therapy” This study found that finasteride use for androgenetic alopecia was not associated with increased sexual dysfunction compared to an age-matched control group.
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.
33 citations
,
April 2015 in “Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity” This review discusses the potential persistent adverse effects associated with 5α reductase inhibitor treatment for androgenetic alopecia but provides no new clinical results; it emphasizes the importance of discussing these risks with patients.
44 citations
,
April 2015 in “PubMed” This study reports that clinical trials of finasteride for androgenic alopecia provide insufficient and systematically biased safety data, with most participants unrepresentative of those in pivotal trials that led to FDA approval.
7 citations
,
April 2015 in “JAMA Dermatology” This text does not provide any research findings or results from a study.
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.
97 citations
,
January 2014 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that dutasteride increased hair growth and restoration in men with androgenetic alopecia more effectively than finasteride and was well tolerated over 24 weeks.
75 citations
,
January 2014 in “Korean Journal of Urology” This review discusses the adverse effects of 5α-reductase inhibitors, finasteride and dutasteride, on sexual, psychological, and vascular health, emphasizing the need for physicians to inform patients of these risks.
24 citations
,
December 2013 in “Sexual medicine reviews” This review discusses persistent sexual and nonsexual adverse effects of the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride in younger men, including erectile dysfunction, low libido, and depression. It reports no new clinical results but emphasizes further research is needed.
34 citations
,
September 2013 in “Urology” Long-term use of a certain medication can worsen erectile function in aged rats by damaging penile muscle cells.
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.
66 citations
,
June 2013 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” This study reported no significant difference in efficacy or sexual dysfunction risk between 5α-reductase inhibitors and placebo for androgenetic alopecia, suggesting that dutasteride 0.5 mg may be considered pending further research.
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.
43 citations
,
December 2012 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” This study found that progesterone reduces neuronal injury from tributyltin exposure in rat hippocampal slices through a mechanism dependent on allopregnanolone and GABAA receptors.
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.
19 citations
,
November 2012 in “BJUI” In this study, researchers observed that the sexual effects of dihydrotestosterone deprivation using finasteride may vary by handedness, with right-handed men often experiencing lower sexual function and left-handed men showing no effect or improvement.
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.
29 citations
,
July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” In this study using a rat model, discontinuing dutasteride improved some relaxant responses but did not fully restore erectile function, indicating a potential time-dependent detriment of the drug.
35 citations
,
February 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that finasteride (1 mg) significantly increased hair growth in all scalp regions affected by male pattern hair loss over 24 months in men aged 18 to 60, with more pronounced effects in younger men.
41 citations
,
October 2011 in “Journal of Dermatology” This study observed that long-term use of finasteride in Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia was associated with progressive hair regrowth in 87.1% of participants without significant safety concerns.
25 citations
,
August 2011 in “The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology” Finasteride caused a rare skin rash in a man, which improved after stopping the medication.
44 citations
,
July 2011 in “Dermatologic Therapy” This study found that finasteride 1 mg was effective in improving androgenetic alopecia over 10 years in men, particularly those older than 30, with some reporting beneficial results even after 5 years.
10 citations
,
June 2011 in “Archives of Dermatology” Finasteride caused blisters on hands and feet.
29 citations
,
May 2011 in “Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery” This case report suggests a possible association between long-term finasteride use for male pattern baldness and the development of cataracts and intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome in a patient.
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.
36 citations
,
February 2011 in “Fertility and Sterility” This case report suggests that discontinuing low-dose finasteride in a 48-year-old man led to a significant reduction in sperm DNA fragmentation index, indicating a possible link between finasteride and sperm DNA damage.
72 citations
,
January 2011 in “Current Pharmaceutical Design” This review discusses the potential role of steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors in treating neuropsychiatric disorders related to dopaminergic hyperreactivity but reports no new clinical results.
38 citations
,
December 2010 in “Fertility and Sterility” In this case report, a male patient's semen parameters improved after discontinuing a 1-mg dose of finasteride, suggesting that stopping the medication may benefit infertile men with previous sperm production issues.
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.
23 citations
,
December 2010 in “Journal of Dermatology” In this study, oral finasteride improved the quality of life for male patients with androgenetic alopecia, but it did not significantly reduce anxiety or correlate with reported anxiety levels.
22 citations
,
December 2010 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” The authors concluded that finasteride treatment inhibits hippocampal neurogenesis in mice, potentially impacting emotional behaviors and contributing to the pathophysiology of affective disorders.
152 citations
,
October 2010 in “Archives of Dermatology” This study found that daily oral finasteride may increase hair count and improve hair appearance assessments in men with androgenetic alopecia, but it also appears to raise the risk of sexual dysfunction.
32 citations
,
May 2010 in “Pharmacopsychiatry” This article investigates whether finasteride influences adult hippocampal neurogenesis related to depression and reports no new clinical findings; the authors suggest further research on its neurosteroid inhibition.
29 citations
,
October 2009 in “Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior” 
72 citations
,
April 2008 in “The Journal of urology/The journal of urology” This study found that 1-year use of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, dutasteride or finasteride, significantly lowered dihydrotestosterone levels without adversely affecting bone density, lipids, or hemoglobin in normal men.
18 citations
,
March 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that finasteride 1 mg daily decreased 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone levels and improved hair growth in younger men with androgenetic alopecia, with higher initial hormone levels predicting better response.
49 citations
,
December 2007 in “Fertility and Sterility” This case report describes two infertile patients who experienced significant improvements in sperm concentrations six months after stopping finasteride.
195 citations
,
February 2007 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” In this study, administering 5alpha-reductase inhibitors reduced dihydrotestosterone levels and was associated with mild, reversible decreases in semen parameters in healthy men.
89 citations
,
December 2006 in “Lancet Oncology” In this study, 1 mg/day finasteride lowered serum PSA concentration in men aged 40–60, suggesting that PSA adjustment recommendations for prostate cancer screening using 5 mg/day finasteride should also apply to this lower dose for hair loss treatment.
215 citations
,
November 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that dutasteride increased scalp hair growth in men with male pattern hair loss, particularly at a 2.5 mg dose, and was more effective than finasteride over 24 weeks.
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.
66 citations
,
June 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study found that long-term finasteride treatment in men with androgenetic alopecia significantly increased hair weight and count compared to placebo over nearly four years.
25 citations
,
January 2006 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that finasteride decreases DHT/T levels more significantly in the vertex scalp hair than in the occipital hair of patients with male pattern baldness.
23 citations
,
October 2005 in “Dermatologic Surgery” This study found that finasteride 1 mg daily, taken before and after hair transplant surgery, significantly improved scalp hair coverage and density in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo.
44 citations
,
July 2004 in “Archives of Dermatology” In this study, treatment with 1 mg of finasteride was associated with stable sexual function, suggesting that sexual side effects may be less common than indicated in clinical trials.
408 citations
,
May 2004 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” This study found that dutasteride more effectively reduced serum dihydrotestosterone levels than finasteride in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
71 citations
,
January 2004 in “Dermatology” This study found that oral finasteride was more effective than 5% topical minoxidil in treating mild to severe androgenetic alopecia in males, with both treatments deemed effective and safe over 12 months.
34 citations
,
January 2004 in “Revista do Hospital das Clínicas” The authors reported that young men with infertility-related conditions experienced improved seminal quality after stopping finasteride, suggesting potential adverse effects on fertility during treatment.
1707 citations
,
December 2003 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Combination therapy of doxazosin and finasteride safely and effectively reduces benign prostatic hyperplasia progression risk.
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.
80 citations
,
August 2002 in “Journal of Dermatology” This study found that combining oral finasteride with topical minoxidil resulted in the greatest improvement in hair growth for male patients with androgenetic alopecia, compared to using any single treatment.
66 citations
,
April 2002 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” In this study, finasteride, 1 mg daily, significantly increased hair weight more than hair count in men with androgenetic alopecia, indicating additional factors like hair growth rate and thickness may contribute to its effectiveness.
36 citations
,
September 2001 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” This study found that sexual and erectile function in men taking finasteride 1 mg did not significantly differ from age-matched controls, suggesting sexual side effects may be less common than previously reported.
129 citations
,
October 2000 in “British Journal of Dermatology” This study found that finasteride increases anagen hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia.
30 citations
,
December 1999 in “International Journal of Dermatology” In this study, men with AGA who took finasteride 5 mg daily for 24 months showed a significant increase in hair counts compared to those who received a placebo.
104 citations
,
October 1999 in “The Journal of Urology” This study concluded that daily treatment with 1 mg finasteride did not affect spermatogenesis or semen production in young men and had small, reversible effects on prostate volume and serum PSA.
187 citations
,
June 1999 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” This study reported that finasteride 1 mg/day significantly increased hair growth and slowed hair loss in men with frontal scalp hair thinning over one year, and these benefits continued or improved in the second year.
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.
56 citations
,
April 1998 in “Steroids” Finasteride reduces hair loss and treats BPH without major hormone changes, but may cause sexual dysfunction.
1054 citations
,
February 1998 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” In this study, men with benign prostatic hyperplasia who took finasteride for four years experienced reduced urinary symptoms, fewer surgeries, less acute urinary retention, increased urinary flow rates, and decreased prostate volume.
143 citations
,
October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Too much androgen can cause hair loss; finasteride may help.
1040 citations
,
October 1992 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” In this study, 5 mg of finasteride per day significantly improved urinary symptoms and reduced prostate volume in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, but increased the risk of sexual dysfunction.
