Can finasteride cause depression?

A study published in 2020 scrutinized over 3,000 reports of side effects from taking finasteride, and found that 89% of those reported side effects were psychological. Patients taking finasteride had 4 times the risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, as well as an increased risk of reporting suicidal feelings.

Does finasteride make you emotional?

Users of finasteride, which prevents dihydrotestosterone production, report serious physical and emotional adverse effects, collectively known as post-finasteride syndrome. Psychiatric illnesses and personality traits, specifically neuroticism influence emotional well-being.

How bad are the side effects of finasteride?

Can stopping finasteride cause depression?

Symptoms often persist after the patient has stopped taking finasteride. Importantly, some patients can experience suicidal ideation and depression after stopping finasteride treatment. Patients and their families should be advised about these symptoms and to seek medical advice as soon as possible if they occur.

Why finasteride is bad?

Finasteride can give you side effects such as not being able to get an erection (impotence) and having less interest in sex. These side effects usually pass after a while. If these side effects do not go away, are worrying you or affecting your sex life, speak to your doctor.

Can you drink alcohol with finasteride?

Although it isn’t clear why the medication might have this effect, Irwig thinks the drug may alter the brain’s chemistry. “Finasteride interferes with the brain’s ability to make certain hormones called neurosteroids, which are likely linked to drinking alcohol,” he said.

Is taking finasteride worth the risk?

Currently, studies show that finasteride is safe to use over the long term. For example, a study from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial of almost 19,000 men who had taken finasteride for seven years concluded that there is “little need to worry” about any long-term consequences from finasteride.

Should I take finasteride morning or night?

What is the best time of day to take finasteride? There is no best time of day. But you should try to take finasteride at the same time every single day to maximize its effectiveness. You pick the time—morning, noon, or night—just make sure you stick with it.

Can finasteride cause permanent damage?

Introduction. Finasteride has been associated with sexual side effects that may persist despite discontinuation of the medication. In a clinical series, 20% of subjects with male pattern hair loss reported persistent sexual dysfunction for ≥6 years, suggesting the possibility that the dysfunction may be permanent.

Can finasteride be stopped abruptly?

Yes, you can stop taking finasteride cold turkey. There are no known adverse reactions to stopping finasteride abruptly. However, if you do stop taking it, your MPB will continue.

Should I be worried about post finasteride syndrome?

Like most medications, finasteride can cause side effects. Some of the most common ones are dizziness, weakness, feeling like you might pass out, rash, and swelling in your hands or feet. The one that most men worry about, which is closely related to post finasteride syndrome concerns, are the sexual side effects.

Can finasteride cause brain fog?

Adverse cognitive effects in former finasteride users were also reported in this study. Such cognitive effects include memory problems (71/131), attention difficulties (93/131), slowed thought processes (93/131), and mental cloudiness or brain fog (95/131) [30].