TLDR Taking 5 alpha reductase inhibitor medication slightly increases the risk of depression, especially as you get older.
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.
90 citations,
March 2017 in “JAMA Internal Medicine” Men over 66 taking medication for prostate enlargement have a higher risk of depression and self-harm, especially in the first 18 months of treatment.
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March 2024 in “Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine” Alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are main treatments for BPH, with new support for phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and beta-3 agonists.
