Many Sexual Adverse Effects of Finasteride Are Attributable to a Nocebo Effect

A study conducted in 2007 found that many of the sexual adverse effects associated with finasteride, a drug used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can be attributed to a nocebo effect. The study involved 107 men with BPH who received 5mg/day of finasteride and were randomly assigned to receive counseling on the potential sexual adverse effects of the drug or no such counseling. The overall incidence of sexual dysfunction was higher in the counseled group than in the group that had not received counseling, indicating that many of the sexual adverse effects associated with finasteride can be attributed to a nocebo effect.