Risk of Depression After 5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Medication: Meta-Analysis
May 2019
in “
The World Journal of Men's Health
”
Studysummary This study found no significant increase in depression risk associated with taking five-alpha reductase inhibitors for benign prostatic hyperplasia or alopecia, although further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In 2020, a meta-analysis involving 425,357 participants was conducted to examine the link between 5 alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI) medication, used for hair loss and prostate enlargement, and depression. The results showed that users of 5ARI medications had a higher risk of developing depression. However, the overall hazard ratio (HR) for depression after 5-ARI medication was 1.23 and the overall odds ratio (OR) was 1.19, which were not statistically significant. The risk of depression was found to increase with age. The study concluded that while the risk of depression was not significantly high, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of studies included.
