February 2019 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” Dutasteride is more effective than finasteride for hair growth in men, with similar safety.
June 2014 in “The Journal of Urology”
June 2024 in “Drug and therapeutics bulletin” Finasteride can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, and lasting psychiatric and sexual issues.
105 citations
,
January 2004 in “The Journal of Urology” Finasteride improves chronic pelvic pain, saw palmetto doesn't.
May 2024 in “News Digital Object Group”
38 citations
,
February 2019 in “Clinical Interventions in Aging” Dutasteride more effectively treats hair loss than finasteride, but may increase risk of altered libido.
32 citations
,
February 2016 in “Journal of Dermatology” Dutasteride safely promotes hair growth and reduces hair loss, with mild side effects.
19 citations
,
January 2016 in “Annals of Dermatology” Dutasteride is safe and effective for treating hair loss, but may decrease libido.
November 2021 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” Nanosuspension increased finasteride's water solubility by over 2.5 times.
June 2025 in “Frontiers in Neurology” Finasteride use is linked to a higher risk of memory problems.
1 citations
,
January 2005 in “The Journal of Urology” May 2020 in “riUfes (Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo)” Finasteride is stable except in high pH, and lactose and magnesium stearate should be replaced in formulations.
March 2025 in “Daehan saengsik uihak hoeji/Clinical and experimental reproductive medicine” Long-term use of dutasteride for hair loss may harm semen quality.
October 2022 in “Revista Eletrônica Acervo Médico” 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors can cause negative side effects.
Flutamide helps with prostate cancer and some skin conditions but can harm the liver.
12 citations
,
April 2020 in “Medical hypotheses” Men on 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors might have worse COVID-19 outcomes.
5 citations
,
January 1991 in “Drugs of The Future”
February 2026 in “NeuroSci” Finasteride and dutasteride may cause depression and anxiety, especially in younger men.
44 citations
,
October 2010 in “BJUI” 5-α-reductase inhibitors reduce prostate cancer risk but may cause sexual dysfunction and don't affect high-grade tumor or death rates.
69 citations
,
July 2015 in “Pharmacotherapy” Low-dose finasteride may cause lasting sexual dysfunction and suicidal thoughts in young men.
69 citations
,
August 2008 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Oral dutasteride and topical pimecrolimus can safely and effectively treat Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, leading to significant hair regrowth.
Androgen suppression therapy (AST) doesn't significantly lower bladder cancer risk, but using finasteride, a type of AST, might decrease the risk. AST also lessens the chance of cancer coming back but doesn't really affect survival rates. More research is needed to understand AST's benefits for different bladder cancers.
May 2022 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Finasteride is linked to sexual dysfunction, especially in younger men using it for hair loss.
2 citations
,
January 2016 in “Andrology”
56 citations
,
April 1998 in “Steroids” Finasteride reduces hair loss and treats BPH without major hormone changes, but may cause sexual dysfunction.
1 citations
,
August 2022 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” Dutasteride is the most effective for hair loss but may cause sexual and mental side effects.
44 citations
,
July 2004 in “Archives of Dermatology” Finasteride for hair loss has minimal impact on sexual function.
December 2022 in “JAMA network open” 5α-Reductase inhibitors may increase depression risk but not dementia or suicide.
October 2025 in “Journal of the Endocrine Society” Finasteride lowers cholesterol but doesn't reduce heart-related events.
6 citations
,
January 2003 in “PubMed” Finasteride reduces prostate size and symptoms with few side effects.