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Newsroom
- FDA Issues Safety Alert for Compounded Topical Finasteride Products
Agency cites ADR reports involving ED, anxiety, suicidal ideation, brain fog, depression, fatigue, insomnia, decreased libido and testicular pain—most of them persistent after quitting April… Read more: FDA Issues Safety Alert for Compounded Topical Finasteride Products - Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Spreads Finasteride-Safety Investigation Across TV, Radio and Print Platforms
Documentary featuring researchers Roberto Melcangi and Michael Irwig is based on interviews with 25 PFS patients April 18, 2025 Dear Friends: MAGA be damned, when… Read more: Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Spreads Finasteride-Safety Investigation Across TV, Radio and Print Platforms - PFS Patient’s Death Leap from Madrid Rooftop Triggers Urgent Warnings of Finasteride Side Effects Among Spanish Media
‘Never take this drug,’ sales manager at global tech firm wrote in suicide note April 2, 2025 Dear Friends: Like Kelsey Libner, Carlos Sarasa González-Aller… Read more: PFS Patient’s Death Leap from Madrid Rooftop Triggers Urgent Warnings of Finasteride Side Effects Among Spanish Media - Wall Street Journal Exposes Telemeds’ Alarming Loophole: No Need to Disclose Finasteride Side Effects in Its Ads
March 13, 2025 Dear Friends: You’d think that any organization pushing a prescription medication on the public would be required to disclose its potential dangers… Read more: Wall Street Journal Exposes Telemeds’ Alarming Loophole: No Need to Disclose Finasteride Side Effects in Its Ads - Compassionate Use Program for WinSanTor’s Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Now in Place
GoFundMe campaign set up to expedite topical pirenzepine 4% prescriptions for PFS patient Feb. 3, 2025 Dear Friends: While it may be several years before… Read more: Compassionate Use Program for WinSanTor’s Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Now in Place
Doctors & Researchers Speaking Out
Two subjects—eight percent—committed suicide during or after the study.
While the sexual side effects of 5ARIs are well known, there may be persistent genitourinary, physical, psycho-cognitive, anti-androgenic and penile vascular changes after 5ARI discontinuation. Use of 5ARIs for treatment of AGA may lead to persistent sexual, genitourinary, physical, psycho-cognitive, and anti-androgenic sequelae even after cessation of 5ARI therapy… Two subjects (8%) committed suicide during or after the study.
—Penile vascular abnormalities in young men with persistent side effects after finasteride use for the treatment of androgenic alopecia: Translational Andrology and Urology, April 2020
The new patient alert cards aim to raise awareness among men taking finasteride about the potential for psychiatric and sexual side effects.
It’s crucial that patients are aware of vital information about the medicines they’re taking. The new patient alert cards aim to raise awareness among men taking finasteride about the potential for psychiatric and sexual side effects, so they can make an informed decision about their treatment and know what to do if they experience these side effects. If you’re taking finasteride 1 mg (Propecia) for hair loss and develop depression or suicidal thoughts, stop treatment and contact your doctor.
—Safety Review of Finasteride: April 2024
ANSM has long been very concerned by the safety profile of finasteride 1 mg, especially regarding psychiatric disorders and sexual dysfunction.
Following serious spontaneous cases reported over time at [the] national level with finasteride 1 mg…ANSM has long been very concerned by the safety profile of finasteride 1 mg, especially regarding psychiatric disorders and sexual dysfunction which can persists after discontinuation of treatment. Despite [our pharmacovigilance] measures, cases of psychiatric disorders (including suicidal ideation) and sexual dysfunction (including long lasting sexual dysfunction that could lead to mood disorders) are still reported. Even though a causal association between finasteride and suicidal ideation has not been established, it was considered at least a reasonable possibility, given that known ADRs such as sexual disorders, including erectile dysfunction/impotence, depression, decreased libido, may lead to suicidal ideation.
—Notification to the European Medicines Agency: September 13, 2024
Side effects are very very common these days because the medicine is easier to get from telehealth companies.
Side effects are very very common these days because the medicine is easier to get from telehealth companies.
I’ve seen a steady increase of young men, one or two a week, seeking treatment for finasteride’s sexual side effects. Some also experience panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. Side effects are very very common these days because the medicine is easier to get from telehealth companies. This is not something young men should take.
—The Wall Street Journal: March 13, 2025
Patients & Loved Ones Crying Out
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Mother of Patient
He was a happy, easy going, kind and caring teenager and Propecia has made him mentally disabled.
My son, 31, had a mild form of BDD and was worried about his hair thinning and took Propecia in 2013. He was taking it for 4 years during which his personality changed beyond recognition and I suspect he developed PFS. He experienced severe side effects: insomnia, loss of libido, obsessive thoughts, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. These deteriorated since he stopped taking Propecia in 2017. He was no longer able to go to work, lost the ability to sleep well, was unable to care for his 2 daughters and is feeling increasingly suicidal. He had to go to the emergency department twice this year and now is in a mental hospital in New York. Vulnerable young people should not be prescribed Propecia so easily and drug producers should provide a clear warning about such dangerous side effects. I believe Propecia ruined his health, career and life. He was a happy, easy going, kind and caring teenager and Propecia has made him mentally disabled. I’m very upset and do not know what to do.
GL, 62, Oxford, England: Aug. 3, 2018
Condition update: September 2020
No improvement
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Mother of Patient
He’d been using topical medications for 5 years and decided to try Finesteride. That was the beginning of a nightmare.
My son was a healthy, smart ambitious 28-year-old man who was going back to school at Suffolk University with a 4.0. He also worked and was in fantastic health, climbing mt Washington in 4 hours for fun. He was, however, battling losing his hair. He’d been using topical medications for 5 years and decided to try Finesteride. That was the beginning of a nightmare. His sister was getting married Alugust 18th. 4 days before the wedding it started…muscle spasms, nonstop and severe anxiety. He had only been on it for 3 months. He immediately stopped taking it but it has continued for the last 5 months. Now though, he is in pain. He has been seeing a neurologist, and is convinced he must have ALS, although so far the tests do not point to that. He started seeing a therapist also hoping it was stress. But the pain and twitching and insomnia are real. He does not currently have any erectile issues thankfully but the physical and mental stress he experiences is horrible. He continues to search foir answers but i am convinced it is from the Finesteride.
LM, Lowell, MA: Jan. 6, 2019
Condition update: August 2020
Slightly worse
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PFS Patient (male)
I am living now for seven years with my parents in their tiny apartment and do not know what to do.
I am 35 years old and have this Syndrome since I have been 24 years old. My Life was smashed and destroyed after I started with Finasteride. I can’t stop thinking about this one moment I decided to go to this special Doctor who treats hairloss. I was 24 years young and I had full beautiful hair. This Doctor made some tests and scared the shit out of me my prognosing a full bald me in a few years. I trusted him and took the pills he gave me. Safe pills he said. No side-effects. Soon after I started the pills my life made a u-turn. I was finishing university and had already found a new job in a new city. That’s when I start to enter hell. I lost my mind and had the most disgusting mental health issues. I had to go to the hospital and started with suicide thoughts. It was an absolute nightmare! Fast Forward. I am living now for seven years with my parents in their tiny apartment and do not know what to do. I feel a bit better because I take a lot of different medications but I can not go outside or even read a book because I feel sedated. I really do not know what to do with my life.
HH, 35, Stuttgart, Germany: Feb. 3, 2019
Condition update: September 2020
No improvement