Is Finasteride (Propecia) for Hair Loss Causing my Health Problems?

This common question comes from members of our [tag]hair loss[/tag] social community and discussion forum:

I recently started [tag]finasteride[/tag] ([tag]Propecia[/tag]) and noticed a new health problem. Is this issue a side effect of the finasteride? Is Propecia causing my health problems?

This is a very common question among new finasteride (Propecia) users. Within the past few years, finasteride has been associated with a variety of side effects.  Most commonly, sexual side effects. Whether or not Propecia can cause all these side effects remains a heated issued. Each patient will react differently to the medication and psychology will always play a role, but what health issues and side effects can be attributed to Propecia use?

According to the manufacturer, the side effects of Propecia include:

In clinical studies for PROPECIA, a small number of men experienced certain sexual side effects, such as less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection, or a decrease in the amount of semen. Each of these side effects occurred in less than 2% of men and went away in men who stopped taking PROPECIA because of them.

In general use, the following have been reported: breast tenderness and enlargement (tell your doctor about any changes in your breasts such as lumps, pain, or nipple discharge); depression; decrease in sex drive that continued after stopping the medication; allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives, and swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, and face; problems with ejaculation that continued after stopping medication; testicular pain; difficulty in achieving an erection that continued after stopping the medication; male infertility and/or poor quality of semen; and, in rare cases, male breast cancer. 

Despite this official statement, many hair loss sufferers report additional side effects from Propecia. It is difficult to say whether these health issues can be attributed to Propecia or if the official statement from the drug company is incomplete. What is important, however, is having these issues evaluated by a physician experienced with finasteride. A trusted doctor can review the problem, perform appropriate examinations and tests, and determine if the problem is related to Propecia. After this is determined, the physician can recommend a treatment or cessation of Propecia.

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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning

Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

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