Despite multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses documenting an increased rate of adverse sexual events in men treated with finasteride for either androgenic alopecia or benign prostatic hypertrophy, 29% of dermatologists thought that this was unlikely and 20% were uncertain. Fewer than a quarter believed that finasteride could cause depression or lower sperm counts. Irwig […]
Tag Archives: Michael S Irwig
Diagnostic criteria for enduring sexual dysfunction after treatment with antidepressants, finasteride and isotretinoin
A set of enduring conditions have been reported in the literature involving persistent sexual dysfunction after discontinuation of serotonin reuptake inhibiting antidepressants, 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors and isotretinoin. OBJECTIVE: To develop diagnostic criteria for post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD), persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) following serotonin reuptake inhibitors, post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) and post-retinoid sexual dysfunction (PRSD). METHODS: […]
How routine pharmacovigilance failed to identify finasteride’s persistent sexual side effects
When confronted with data that their product could cause persistent erectile dysfunction, the Risk Management Safety Team at Merck, in 2009, had the opportunity to take further action to sort out the issue. Realizing that many adverse event reports lacked adequate information, the team could have recommended conducting additional rigorous prospective studies on finasteride to […]