Suicidal Risk Associated With Finasteride Versus Dutasteride Among Men Treated for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Nationwide Cohort Study

March 2023 in “ Scientific Reports ”

Moussa Laanani, Alain Weill, Fabrice Jollant, Mahmoud Zureik, R. Dray‐Spira

finasteride dutasteride benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH androgenetic alopecia mood disorders Propecia Avodart

From the encyclopedia

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Dutasteride →

Heavy duty finasteride that comes with higher risks

Studysummary This cohort study found no overall increased risk of suicidal behaviors with finasteride versus dutasteride in men aged 50 and older, but suggested potential risk for those with a history of mood disorders.

Automatically generated from the study's abstract, not written by a person, and not a review of the full paper. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Read the original study, and consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

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Research cited in this study

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research Rare and Common Genetic Determinants of Metabolic Individuality and Their Effects on Human Health

29 citations , November 2022 in “Nature Medicine”

This study identified thousands of variant-metabolite associations in the human plasma metabolome, offering insights into the genetic bases of metabolism and potential adverse drug effects.

research Further Studies of Effects of Finasteride on Mood and Suicidal Risk

2 citations , November 2021 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology”

This article provides no new research results, focusing instead on International Consortium for Mood and Psychotic Disorder Research's topics and types of collaborations.

research The Connection of 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors to the Development of Depression

4 citations , August 2021 in “Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy”

This review summarizes the association between 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and depression, discussing potential mechanisms such as neuroactive steroid alterations and neuroinflammation, but reports no new clinical results.

research Risk of Depression Associated with Finasteride Treatment

7 citations , April 2021 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology”

In this study, finasteride treatment was associated with an increased risk of depression, suicidal ideation, and persistent sexual dysfunction compared to those not treated with the drug.

research Use of High-Dose Cyproterone Acetate and Risk of Intracranial Meningioma in Women: Cohort Study

59 citations , February 2021 in “BMJ”

This study found a strong dose-related increase in the risk of intracranial meningiomas associated with high doses of cyproterone acetate, with some reduction in risk after stopping the treatment.

research Investigation of Suicidality and Psychological Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Finasteride

40 citations , November 2020 in “JAMA Dermatology”

This pharmacovigilance study found an increased association of suicidality and psychological adverse events with finasteride use, especially among younger patients using it for alopecia.

research Finasteride and Suicide: A Postmarketing Case Series

6 citations , January 2020 in “Dermatology”

This study suggests that men under 40 who develop persistent sexual side effects and insomnia after using finasteride for alopecia may be at increased risk of suicide.

research Post-Finasteride Syndrome

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.

research Repeated Finasteride Administration Induces Depression-Like Behavior in Adult Male Rats

19 citations , March 2019 in “Behavioural Brain Research”

This study found that repeated finasteride administration in male Wistar rats led to increased depression-like behavior, suggesting an animal model for investigating finasteride's neuropsychiatric effects is viable.

research Quality of Life Assessment in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia

30 citations , January 2019 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study observed that androgenetic alopecia significantly impacts the quality of life in males, with personal relationships being notably affected, based on Dermatology Life Quality Index and hair-specific Skindex-29 assessments.

research Efficacy and Safety of 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor Monotherapy in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Meta-Analysis

19 citations , October 2018 in “PLOS ONE”

This study found that 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor monotherapy for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia showed some clinical benefit over placebo but was linked to a higher incidence of sexual side effects.

Treatment of Male Rats with Finasteride, an Inhibitor of 5alpha-Reductase Enzyme, Induces Long-Lasting Effects on Depressive-Like Behavior, Hippocampal Neurogenesis, Neuroinflammation, and Gut Microbiota Composition

research Treatment of Male Rats with Finasteride, an Inhibitor of 5alpha-Reductase Enzyme, Induces Long-Lasting Effects on Depressive-Like Behavior, Hippocampal Neurogenesis, Neuroinflammation, and Gut Microbiota Composition

37 citations , September 2018 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

This study found that finasteride treatment in male rats led to enduring effects on depressive-like behavior, hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroinflammation, and gut microbiota composition after withdrawal.

research A Review of the FAERS Data on 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors: Implications for Postfinasteride Syndrome

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.

The 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride Increases Suicide-Related Aggressive Behaviors and Blocks Clozapine-Induced Beneficial Effects in an Animal Model of Schizophrenia

research The 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride Increases Suicide-Related Aggressive Behaviors and Blocks Clozapine-Induced Beneficial Effects in an Animal Model of Schizophrenia

12 citations , April 2018 in “Physiology & Behavior”

In this study, clozapine reduced suicide-related behaviors in a schizophrenia-like mouse model, but its effects on exploratory behavior were counteracted by the neurosteroid inhibitor finasteride.

research Association of Suicidality and Depression with 5α-Reductase Inhibitors

1 citations , August 2017 in “The Journal of urology/The journal of urology”

5α-reductase inhibitors may increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.

research Association of Suicidality and Depression With 5α-Reductase Inhibitors

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.

research Persistent Erectile Dysfunction in Men Exposed to 5α-Reductase Inhibitors, Finasteride, or Dutasteride

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.

research Finasteride 1 mg in Alopecia: Sexual Dysfunction, Suicidal Ideation. Providing Balanced Information to Male Patients Is Key.

October 2016 in “PubMed”

research Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Dutasteride in the Treatment of Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia

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.

research Emotional Consequences of Finasteride: Fool’s Gold

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.

5α-Reductase Inhibition Prevents the Luteal Phase Increase in Plasma Allopregnanolone Levels and Mitigates Symptoms in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

research 5α-Reductase Inhibition Prevents the Luteal Phase Increase in Plasma Allopregnanolone Levels and Mitigates Symptoms in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

110 citations , August 2015 in “Neuropsychopharmacology”

In this study, high-dose dutasteride significantly reduced several core symptoms of PMDD compared to placebo, supporting the role of neurosteroids in this condition.

research Persistent Sexual Dysfunction and Suicidal Ideation in Young Men Treated with Low-Dose Finasteride: A Pharmacovigilance Study

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.

research Persistent Sexual, Emotional, and Cognitive Impairment Post-Finasteride

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.

Patients Treated for Male Pattern Hair Loss with Finasteride Show Altered Levels of Neuroactive Steroids in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma After Discontinuation

research Patients Treated for Male Pattern Hair Loss with Finasteride Show Altered Levels of Neuroactive Steroids in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma After Discontinuation

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.

Neuroactive Steroid Levels Are Modified in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Post-Finasteride Patients Showing Persistent Sexual Side Effects and Anxious/Depressive Symptomatology

research Neuroactive Steroid Levels Are Modified in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Post-Finasteride Patients Showing Persistent Sexual Side Effects and Anxious/Depressive Symptomatology

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.

research Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Thoughts Among Former Users of Finasteride With Persistent Sexual Side Effects

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.

Adverse Side Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent Diminished Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, and Depression in a Subset of Patients

research Adverse Side Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent Diminished Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, and Depression in a Subset of Patients

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.

Finasteride-Induced Depression: New Insights Into Possible Pathomechanisms