29 citations
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April 2019 in “BMJ. British medical journal” Men taking dutasteride or finasteride have a slightly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
30 citations
,
December 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Steroids, particularly estrogens and 5α-reductase inhibitors, affect blood vessel-related hair growth processes in hair follicle cells.
90 citations
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March 2017 in “JAMA Internal Medicine” Men over 66 taking medication for prostate enlargement have a higher risk of depression and self-harm, especially in the first 18 months of treatment.
16 citations
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September 2016 in “Neuropharmacology” Activating TSPO helps protect the retina from damage caused by high eye pressure in glaucoma.
2 citations
,
March 2018 in “Current Opinion in Urology” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual, neurologic, endocrine, and cardiovascular side effects, but these are rare and usually stop after ending treatment.
6 citations
,
March 2015 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” Taking both finasteride and dutasteride for prostate issues may raise the risk of heart problems.
26 citations
,
April 2019 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Herbal alternatives like saw palmetto and green tea may offer safe, effective treatment for hormonal hair loss.
6 citations
,
January 2018 in “Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety” Starting 5-alpha reductase inhibitors does not significantly increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis in older men, but is linked to a higher risk of muscle conditions.
22 citations
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December 2010 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Finasteride may increase depression by reducing brain cell growth.
3 citations
,
August 2020 in “Urology Journal” Using 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may increase the risk of mild depression.
4 citations
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May 2019 in “The World Journal of Men's Health” Taking 5 alpha reductase inhibitor medication slightly increases the risk of depression, especially as you get older.
131 citations
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August 2000 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Inflammation may be linked to hair loss, and targeting specific enzymes could help treat it.
14 citations
,
February 2018 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Mice lacking steroid 5α-reductase 2 show less aggression and better impulse control.
July 2023 in “IntechOpen eBooks” Some types of hair loss can be reversed, others are permanent, and treatments vary by type.
4 citations
,
October 2018 in “International Braz J Urol” Taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors does not increase the risk of breast cancer in men.
13 citations
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November 2012 in “PubMed” 5α-reductase inhibitors may worsen sexual drive and spontaneous erections but don't worsen existing erectile or ejaculatory problems.
35 citations
,
April 2013 in “Sexual medicine reviews” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors slightly increase the risk of sexual and mood side effects, and breast growth in men.
57 citations
,
July 2016 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” 5α-reductase inhibitors increase the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in men with enlarged prostate.
37 citations
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April 2008 in “The Cochrane library” 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors can lower prostate cancer risk but may increase high-grade tumors and cause sexual side effects.
December 2025 in “Cureus” Using 5α-reductase inhibitors for hair loss may increase the risk of dry eye disease.
70 citations
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November 2013 in “The BMJ” Tamsulosin for enlarged prostate may increase the risk of severe low blood pressure, especially when starting or restarting the medication.
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.
24 citations
,
January 2015 in “Annals of Dermatology” Herbal extracts may help hair grow and could be an alternative to synthetic hair loss treatments.
April 2024 in “Journal of clinical medicine” Effective treatment guidelines for frontal fibrosing alopecia are still unclear.
December 2015 in “University of Birmingham Institutional Research Archive (University of Birmingham)” AKR1C3 could be a treatment target for metabolic issues in PCOS.
January 2020 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Using 5α-reductase inhibitors for hair loss can cause lasting sexual, physical, mental, and vascular health issues in men, even after stopping the medication.
1 citations
,
April 2022 in “AACE clinical case reports” A 36-year-old person with a female appearance but male chromosomes was diagnosed with a rare enzyme deficiency affecting sexual development.
21 citations
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March 2018 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors may help stabilize or slow down hair loss in some frontal fibrosing alopecia patients, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety.
1 citations
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July 2023 in “Cureus” Some treatments for hereditary hair loss are effective but vary in results and side effects; new therapies show promise but need more research.
2 citations
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October 2021 in “Asian Journal of Andrology” Medications for hair loss and prostate issues can significantly increase the risk of sexual side effects and other negative symptoms.