April 2026 in “Brain Sciences” Finasteride may cause depression and suicidal thoughts, especially in young men.
May 2015 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride for hair loss in young men increases the risk of sexual dysfunction.
Topical finasteride may better target hair follicles without significant benefits over oral form.
August 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The conclusion is that finasteride is linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and a higher risk of completed suicide when used for hair loss.
April 2021 in “Reactions Weekly” Finasteride increases risk of depression, possibly suicidal thoughts, and sexual dysfunction.
March 2014 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” Dutasteride 0.5mg was found to be more effective than finasteride 1mg in treating male pattern hair loss, with similar side effects.
Finasteride's metabolites were identified, helping understand how the drug is processed in the body.
3 citations
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June 2018 in “International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy” Baby born healthy despite mom taking finasteride, but more research needed.
July 2012 in “Reactions Weekly” Crushed finasteride tablets can harm pregnant and fertile women.
January 2004 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” Finasteride is a safe and effective treatment for male hair loss.
28 citations
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December 2003 in “Medical Hypotheses” Ketoconazole shampoo with finasteride improves hair density in men with hair loss.
24 citations
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October 2016 in “Oncotarget” Finasteride has a higher risk of reproductive side effects than minoxidil.
5 citations
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August 1999 in “Archives of Dermatology” 
June 2025 in “Pharmaceuticals” Finasteride use may increase suicidality risk, especially in young men.
Finasteride reduces prostate size and PSA levels in young patients.
May 2011 in “MOspace Institutional Repository (University of Missouri)” Finasteride at 1 mg daily doesn't help hair loss in postmenopausal women and has similar side effects to a placebo.
September 2006 in “대한피부과학회지” Using finasteride and minoxidil together improves the frontal hairline best in male hair loss.
August 2025 in “Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry” A new topical finasteride formulation effectively promotes hair growth with fewer side effects.
Finasteride tablets and capsules work the same in the body.
4 citations
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October 2002 in “BJUI” Finasteride treats hair loss but may affect prostate cancer detection.
17 citations
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May 1998 in “Steroids” Researchers developed a model to predict how well certain compounds can block an enzyme related to hair loss and prostate issues, suggesting a 50 mg dose of finasteride might be effective based on lab and body data.
51 citations
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October 2002 in “British Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride increases hair density in female androgenetic alopecia, but individual results may vary.
November 2023 in “Acta scientific pharmaceutical sciences” Different methods accurately measure Finasteride in medicines and body fluids.
January 2023 in “Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação” Combining Finasteride and Minoxidil effectively treats hair loss in middle-aged men.
January 2022 in “Drug Delivery” The aloe ferox gel with finasteride and oregano oil may effectively treat alopecia.
14 citations
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June 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” June 2026 in “The Pharmacogenomics Journal” 
31 citations
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February 2016 in “American Journal of Men's Health” Finasteride can cause serious emotional side effects; doctors should check patients' mental health history before prescribing.
January 2017 in “Más dermatología” Topical finasteride may help treat hair loss in men and women.
November 2025 in “Open Repository of the University of Porto (University of Porto)” Continuous use of finasteride and minoxidil is effective for treating androgenetic alopecia.