Men taking a common hair loss drug were warned today about the risk of serious psychiatric and sexual side effects.
Safety concerns mean Britons must now stop taking finasteride immediately if they develop depression or suicidal thoughts.
Health officials warn that the daily pill, used by millions of men around the world, could also trigger low libido and erectile dysfunction.
In some cases, the alarming effects persisted even after the men stopped taking the drug, in what patients have called “post-finasteride syndrome.”
It is known that US President Donald Trump took finasteride. The NHS prescribes it to men with an enlarged prostate.
Safety concerns mean Britons must now stop taking finasteride immediately if they develop depression or suicidal thoughts. Health officials warn that the daily pill, used by millions of men around the world, could also trigger low libido and erectile dysfunction. In some cases, the alarming effects persisted even after the men stopped taking the drug, in what patients have called “post-finasteride syndrome.”
It is known that US President Donald Trump took finasteride. The NHS prescribes it to men with an enlarged prostate. But the exact number of users in the UK is unclear as the drug is not distributed for hair loss on the NHS, but is only available privately.
But the exact number of users in the UK is unclear, as the drug is not distributed for hair loss on the NHS and is instead only available privately.
The warnings about the side effects of finasteride come after a safety review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which monitors the safety of medicines used in the UK.
It was prompted by a three-fold increase since 2020 in the number of men reporting serious side effects, including depression, insomnia, low libido and erectile dysfunction.
Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, said: “It is crucial that patients know vital information about the medicines they are taking.
Warning cards warning of possible side effects will be introduced on packages of finasteride later this year.
Dr Cave added: “The patient alert cards aim to make men taking finasteride aware of the possible psychiatric and sexual side effects, so that they can make an informed decision about their treatment and know what to do if they experience these effects. secondary”.
‘If you are taking finasteride 1 mg (Propecia) for hair loss and develop depression or suicidal thoughts, stop treatment and contact your doctor.
‘If these symptoms develop with finasteride 5 mg (Proscar), for a benign enlargement of the prostate, consult your doctor immediately for further advice.
‘Any concerns about sexual dysfunction should be discussed with your healthcare professional.
“Remember to always read the package leaflet because it includes important information about how to take finasteride and its possible side effects.”
Finasteride was originally developed by Merck and Co in the 1980s to treat an enlarged prostate.
Users soon began to see unexpected hair growth, which led to using it for that reason.
It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT can cause the prostate to grow.
High levels of DHT are believed to cause hair loss by shrinking the follicles of the scalp, hence it can combat hair loss.
Experts have previously suggested that the increase in reports of side effects could be due to online companies selling finasteride to treat hair loss by private prescription. Men can order the medicine online easily.
The NHS says serious side effects are “rare” and occur in less than one in 1,000 people.
GPs and other professionals dispensed almost 4.1 million prescriptions for enlarged prostates in England alone in the 2022/23 financial year, according to the latest NHS data.
Merck & Co has long denied any connection with serious long-term side effects.
However, the US-based pharmaceutical company has paid millions of dollars to settle lawsuits with patients in the United States.
In 2021, Reuters reported that it had obtained US court documents showing that US watchdogs had received more than 700 reports of suicide and suicidal thoughts related to the drug since 2011.
MHRA bosses received the first similar report in the early 1990s.
Since then, it has received almost 300 reports of depressed mood disorders and suicidal and self-harm behaviors related to finasteride.
More than 400 have also been associated with sexual dysfunction.
- For confidential assistance, call Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details