Side Effects Related to 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor Treatment of Hair Loss in Women: A Review

April 2016 in “ PubMed ”

Lauren Seale, Ariana N Eglini, Amy J. McMichael

5 α-reductase inhibitors finasteride dutasteride female pattern hair loss FPHL frontal fibrosing alopecia FFA Propecia Avodart

TLDR The review found that women using hair loss drugs like finasteride and dutasteride rarely reported sexual side effects.

The review from 2016 examined the side effects related to the use of 5 α-reductase inhibitors, such as finasteride and dutasteride, in the treatment of hair loss in women. These drugs, traditionally used for male hair loss, had been increasingly used off-label for female pattern hair loss (FPHL) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) in women. The review of 20 peer-reviewed articles found that very few side effects related to sexual function were reported in studies where these drugs were used to treat hair loss in women. The authors suggested that future research should focus not only on the efficacy of these drugs in treating FPHL and FFA, but also on their side effect profile in patients.

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