Persistent Sexual and Nonsexual Adverse Effects of Finasteride in Younger Men

December 2013 in “ Sexual medicine reviews ”

Michael S. Irwig

finasteride male pattern hair loss benign prostatic hyperplasia erectile function libido orgasm problems depression Propecia

TLDR Finasteride can cause sexual problems and depression in young men.

This document discusses the persistent sexual and nonsexual adverse effects of finasteride in younger men. The study found that finasteride, a medication used to treat male pattern hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia, had detrimental effects on erectile function, libido, and orgasm problems. The study also found that finasteride was linked to depression in rodents and humans. The paper suggests that healthcare providers should be aware of these potential adverse effects and discuss them with patients before prescribing finasteride.

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Research cited in this study

22 / 22 results

Long-Term Oral Administration of 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Attenuates Erectile Function by Inhibiting Autophagy and Promoting Apoptosis of Smooth Muscle Cells in Corpus Cavernosum of Aged Rats

research Long-Term Oral Administration of 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Attenuates Erectile Function by Inhibiting Autophagy and Promoting Apoptosis of Smooth Muscle Cells in Corpus Cavernosum of Aged Rats

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Long-term use of a certain medication can worsen erectile function in aged rats by damaging penile muscle cells.

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

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Finasteride use changes brain chemicals, causing lasting sexual issues and anxiety/depression.

research Decreased Alcohol Consumption Among Former Male Users of Finasteride with Persistent Sexual Side Effects: A Preliminary Report

27 citations , June 2013 in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research”

Finasteride use may lead to less alcohol consumption in men with lasting sexual side effects.

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”

Former finasteride users with persistent sexual side effects have higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts.

research Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride: Could They Be Permanent?

112 citations , July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

Finasteride may cause long-lasting sexual side effects.

research Incomplete Recovery of Erectile Function in Rats After Discontinuation of Dual 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Therapy

29 citations , July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

Rats had lasting erectile problems after stopping a certain medication.

research Effects of Oral Finasteride on Erectile Function in a Rat Model

25 citations , February 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

Finasteride reduces corpus cavernosum weight but doesn't affect erectile response in rats.

research Ethanol Enhances Neurosteroidogenesis in Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons by Paradoxical NMDA Receptor Activation

82 citations , July 2011 in “Journal of Neuroscience”

Ethanol boosts brain steroid production by activating NMDA receptors, affecting memory formation.

research Alteration of Ethanol Drinking in Mice via Modulation of the GABAA Receptor with Ganaxolone, Finasteride, and Gaboxadol

34 citations , June 2011 in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research”

Three drugs change mice's alcohol drinking patterns by affecting GABAA receptors.

research Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss

185 citations , March 2011 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

Finasteride for hair loss can cause long-lasting sexual side effects like low libido and erectile dysfunction.

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”

Some patients taking finasteride or dutasteride may have ongoing sexual problems and depression even after stopping the medication.

research Finasteride Treatment Inhibits Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Male Mice

32 citations , May 2010 in “Pharmacopsychiatry”

Finasteride reduces new brain cells in male mice, possibly causing depression.

research Inhibition of 5α-Reduced Steroid Biosynthesis Impedes Acquisition of Ethanol Drinking in Male C57BL/6J Mice

49 citations , July 2008 in “Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research”

Finasteride reduces alcohol consumption in mice by affecting brain chemicals.

research GABAergic Neurosteroids Mediate the Effects of Ethanol on Long-Term Potentiation in Rat Hippocampal Slices

48 citations , September 2007 in “European Journal of Neuroscience”

Ethanol blocks memory formation in rats by enhancing certain brain chemicals.

The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

research The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

215 citations , November 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride more effective for hair growth, but has more side effects than finasteride.

research Finasteride Induced Depression: A Prospective Study

99 citations , October 2006 in “BMC clinical pharmacology”

Finasteride may cause slight depression and anxiety.

Treatment With and Withdrawal From Finasteride Alter Ethanol Intake Patterns in Male C57BL/6J Mice: Potential Role of Endogenous Neurosteroids

research Treatment With and Withdrawal From Finasteride Alter Ethanol Intake Patterns in Male C57BL/6J Mice: Potential Role of Endogenous Neurosteroids

54 citations , August 2005 in “Alcohol”

Finasteride affects alcohol intake in male mice, possibly due to neurosteroids.

research GABRA2 Alleles Moderate the Subjective Effects of Alcohol, Which Are Attenuated by Finasteride

134 citations , February 2005 in “Neuropsychopharmacology”

GABRA2 gene variations impact alcohol response, and hair loss medication finasteride reduces some effects.

research Hippocampal 3α,5α-THP May Alter Depressive Behavior of Pregnant and Lactating Rats

83 citations , July 2004 in “Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior”

Higher 3α,5α-THP levels in the brain may reduce depression in pregnant rats.

research Depression Related to Finasteride Administration for Androgenetic Alopecia

88 citations , October 2002 in “Journal of Dermatology”

Finasteride for hair loss may cause depression, affecting sleep and relationships.

research Changes in Progesterone Metabolites in the Hippocampus Can Modulate Open Field and Forced Swim Test Behavior of Proestrous Rats

269 citations , May 2002 in “Hormones and Behavior”

Lowering 3α,5α-THP in the hippocampus increases anxiety and depression in proestrous rats.

research The Effects of Transdermal Dihydrotestosterone in the Aging Male: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study

110 citations , April 2002 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

Dihydrotestosterone gel improved well-being and sexual function in older men without negatively affecting prostate health.

Related Research

7 / 7 results

research Finasteride and Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or Male Androgenetic Alopecia

20 citations , August 2018 in “The World Journal of Men's Health”

Finasteride may increase erectile dysfunction risk in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The Impact of 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Use for Male Pattern Hair Loss on Men's Health

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”

Some patients taking finasteride or dutasteride may have ongoing sexual problems and depression even after stopping the medication.

research Effect of Finasteride, a 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor, on Serum Gonadotropins in Normal Men

30 citations , August 1992 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”

Finasteride doesn't affect hormone levels in normal men.

Persistent Sexual and Nonsexual Adverse Effects of Finasteride in Younger Men

Research cited in this study

research Long-Term Oral Administration of 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Attenuates Erectile Function by Inhibiting Autophagy and Promoting Apoptosis of Smooth Muscle Cells in Corpus Cavernosum of Aged Rats

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

research Decreased Alcohol Consumption Among Former Male Users of Finasteride with Persistent Sexual Side Effects: A Preliminary Report

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

research Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride: Could They Be Permanent?

research Incomplete Recovery of Erectile Function in Rats After Discontinuation of Dual 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Therapy

research Effects of Oral Finasteride on Erectile Function in a Rat Model

research Ethanol Enhances Neurosteroidogenesis in Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons by Paradoxical NMDA Receptor Activation

research Alteration of Ethanol Drinking in Mice via Modulation of the GABAA Receptor with Ganaxolone, Finasteride, and Gaboxadol

research Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss

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

research Finasteride Treatment Inhibits Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Male Mice

research Inhibition of 5α-Reduced Steroid Biosynthesis Impedes Acquisition of Ethanol Drinking in Male C57BL/6J Mice

research GABAergic Neurosteroids Mediate the Effects of Ethanol on Long-Term Potentiation in Rat Hippocampal Slices

research The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

research Finasteride Induced Depression: A Prospective Study

research Treatment With and Withdrawal From Finasteride Alter Ethanol Intake Patterns in Male C57BL/6J Mice: Potential Role of Endogenous Neurosteroids

research GABRA2 Alleles Moderate the Subjective Effects of Alcohol, Which Are Attenuated by Finasteride

research Hippocampal 3α,5α-THP May Alter Depressive Behavior of Pregnant and Lactating Rats

research Depression Related to Finasteride Administration for Androgenetic Alopecia

research Changes in Progesterone Metabolites in the Hippocampus Can Modulate Open Field and Forced Swim Test Behavior of Proestrous Rats

research The Effects of Transdermal Dihydrotestosterone in the Aging Male: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study

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Related Research

research Finasteride and Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or Male Androgenetic Alopecia

research The Impact of 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Use for Male Pattern Hair Loss on Men's Health

research Sexual Adverse Effects of Finasteride 1mg for Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia in Men

research Oral Finasteride Presents With Sexual-Unrelated Withdrawal in Long-Term Treated Androgenic Alopecia in Men

research Persistent Sexual and Nonsexual Adverse Effects of Finasteride in Younger Men

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

research Effect of Finasteride, a 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor, on Serum Gonadotropins in Normal Men