269 citations
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May 2002 in “Hormones and Behavior” Lowering 3α,5α-THP in the hippocampus increases anxiety and depression in proestrous rats.
May 2017 in “Urology and andrology” Finasteride and dutasteride, used for prostate issues and hair loss, can cause side effects like sexual dysfunction and mental issues, which may continue even after stopping the medication, a condition called post-finasteride syndrome, for which there's currently no cure.
30 citations
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January 2020 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride can cause serious side effects in some men, needing more research for treatment.
66 citations
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April 2017 in “International Journal of Andrology” Men taking 5α-reductase inhibitors for enlarged prostate have a higher chance of experiencing reduced sexual desire and erectile dysfunction.
January 2011 in “Reactions Weekly” Certain medications, especially 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, are commonly linked to erectile dysfunction.
December 2018 in “Actas urológicas españolas” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may have additional effects on cancer, mental health, heart health, and hormone levels beyond treating prostate enlargement.
January 2009 in “IRIS UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia)” Neurosteroids from glia cells help control seizure development in epilepsy.
49 citations
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September 2015 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” 5α-reductase affects dopamine receptors linked to sensorimotor gating, which may help understand disorders like schizophrenia.
February 2023 in “Reactions Weekly”
August 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride use for hair loss is linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and a higher risk of suicide.
February 2026 in “Toxicology Letters” MK-0773 is a moderate inhibitor of the SRD5A2 enzyme.
May 2021 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” Clinicians need to better understand and treat Post-finasteride syndrome.
13 citations
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December 2010 in “Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior” Inhibiting certain enzymes made female rats more sensitive to low-level pain.
22 citations
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June 2011 in “Acta Ophthalmologica” Certain medications like α1-blockers, benzodiazepines, and finasteride increase the risk of floppy iris syndrome during cataract surgery.
March 1987 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Oral spironolactone and isotretinoin are effective for treating acne.
January 2022 in “Drugs of Today” 7 citations
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April 2021 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology” Finasteride may increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
June 2011 in “Pharmacopsychiatry” Finasteride improved symptoms in a psychotic patient, but more research is needed.
April 2026 in “Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety” Finasteride is high-risk for cognitive disorders, while Carbidopa/Levodopa, Topiramate, and Clonazepam are moderate-risk.
April 2012 in “Reactions Weekly” Finasteride may cause more sexual side effects than previously thought.
3 citations
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November 1998 in “PubMed” 2 citations
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January 2015 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”
Spironolactone may be a better acne treatment for adult women than antibiotics.
24 citations
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July 2015 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” Fluoxetine may help reduce fat by limiting stem cell growth and fat cell formation.
July 2024 in “Reactions Weekly”
June 2025 in “Reactions Weekly” Finasteride may increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.
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.
46 citations
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September 2011 in “Journal of Endocrinology” Natural 5α-reduced glucocorticoids might be anti-inflammatory with fewer side effects than current options.
29 citations
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October 2020 in “Environmental health perspectives” Five preservatives may disrupt hormone function and need more health and environmental risk assessment.