Finasteride and Suicidal Thoughts: What Users Say

• hlj...
• July 12, 2019

Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia "I took 5 pills from April 2-6. Over the course of those 5 days, I had worsening symptoms of brain fog, headaches, sleeplessness, suicidal ideation, ED/impotence, loss of libido, increased fat mass, and muscle weakness that didn't dissipate for a month and a half. Even now (July), I still have increased fat mass, increased tissue on the breast, peripheral edema (mild), and difficulty (mild) with erections. I'm not as focused or driven due to ongoing sleep difficulties (mild/moderate) and the intensity of these effects. Every day, I regret taking this drug. I took this drug without researching any side effects, I really regret not looking into possible side effects. Please be aware that the consequences could be extremely negative and persistent."

• Asd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2023

For Androgenetic Alopecia "I took 1 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Yes, I did notice a slight change around my hairline. However, that’s where the positive ends. I am 24 and have had a receding hairline due to stress. Slowly but surely, I began to get anxious, and I was unable to think and study for my classes. This caused me to go into a full-on downward spiral, and I went into panic mode. I had nightmares each night and would wake up in the morning with my heart racing and my breathing heavy. I’d wake up, eat, and have coffee as usual. Boom, full-blown panic attack. Then I took my prescribed Propranolol, and the racing heart would go away, but what was left was a broken, lost, depressed, suicidal shell of who I formerly was. I had to get a doctor's excuse to miss exams that week. I finally realized it was the finasteride, and I quickly stopped it per two of my doctor’s opinions. Even after stopping, I have continued to be depressed and have suicidal ideation. Getting better."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2022

For Androgenetic Alopecia "The drug is posed as a clinically safe way to reduce hair loss. Studies supposedly proved this, and all doctors considered it safe. After taking this drug, within 2 hours, something shifted in the way I perceived the world; anxiety and emotional empathy were abnormally heightened. Attributing it to temporary effects, as seen in painkillers and recreational substances. Took one more dose. It’s currently >6 months after quitting. These effects and more still remain. Research concludes its effects are set in the epigenome. - sour ammonia body odor - pale skin - thin body hair - more subcutaneous body fat - muscle loss calves; forearms; neck - gynecomastia - female fat distribution - loss of ambition/enthusiasm/life energy - loss of libido/ED - personality alterations - altered brain-body connection - depression/suicidal ideation"

• vet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 24, 2021

For Androgenetic Alopecia "This drug is bad! It is given by the Veterans Administration for enlarged prostate. VA doctors, including urologists, have been incompetent and derelict in failing to warn veterans about the side effects of the drug and its dangers. They also fail to give hormone blood tests before taking and after taking for testosterone and other hormones to get a baseline. This drug has messed me up and millions of veterans who have enlarged prostate with no recognition nor treatment from the Veterans Administration or its urologists/doctors. VA doctors will tell you a fat lie that Post-Finasteride Syndrome doesn't exist, as all the symptomology goes away once you cease the drug. This drug has caused our veterans total impotence, shrinkage of the penis and genitals, enlarged breasts, brain fog, anxiety, depression, severe memory loss, sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleeplessness, suicidal ideation, and suicide."

• vet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 24, 2021

For Androgenetic Alopecia "This drug is bad! It is given by the Veterans Administration for enlarged prostate. VA doctors, including urologists, have been incompetent and derelict in failing to warn veterans about the side effects of the drug and its dangers. They also fail to give hormone blood tests before taking and after taking for testosterone and other hormones to get a baseline. This drug has messed me up and millions of veterans who have enlarged prostate with no recognition nor treatment from the Veterans Administration or its urologists/doctors. VA doctors will tell you a fat lie that Post-Finasteride Syndrome doesn't exist, as all the symptomology goes away once you cease the drug. This drug has caused our veterans total impotence, shrinkage of the penis and genitals, enlarged breasts, brain fog, anxiety, depression, severe memory loss, sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleeplessness, suicidal ideation, and suicide."

• Ale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2021

For Androgenetic Alopecia "Wow! I never believed the people who got PFS. Now I do, I took just half a pill a week ago. The night I took it, my penis had shrunk a bit, got an intense brain fog (which I still have today), couldn’t get hard (I was basically impotent), and semen was watery. The next day, I lost interest in sex, motivation hit rock bottom, joint pain in legs, and I had extreme anxiety and lots more symptoms. I quit immediately. So... this stuff is dangerous/poisonous for a few! If you want to risk chemical castration, then go for it. After half a pill a week ago, I still have fatigue, brain fog, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, small joint pain, and a lowered sexual interest. Which has gotten better each day after HALF A PILL, A WEEK AGO."

• Lif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2018

For Androgenetic Alopecia "DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION! Finasteride is a poisonous substance which can result in devastating, permanent side effects. I took 1 mg per day for less than one week. This was more than 18 months ago, and side effects are still severe. Side effects include: dramatically lowered libido, erectile dysfunction, smaller erections (tissue loss of the penis), testicular atrophy, diminished penile sensitivity, abnormal ejaculations, subcutaneous fat loss, sunken black eyes, severely dry skin, pseudogynecomastia (fat deposits on the breasts), swollen nipples, lessened facial hair growth, eyebrow and eyelash loss, chest hair loss, leg hair loss, diminished pubic hair, muscle fasciculations and twitching of the limbs, muscle degradation, fatigue, depression, suicidal ideation. It can destroy your masculinity with only a few doses! DO NOT TAKE THE RISK!"

• Gar...
• April 19, 2017

For Androgenetic Alopecia "DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. I started this drug mid-January 2016 - March 2016. I've had depression, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, thoughts of suicide, headaches. I got better by September 2016, but my body crashed again in October (another common side effect from this drug). I got better by Christmas, but since February 2016 I've gone downhill. Please don't take this, use topical or have a hair transplant."