In a retrospective study, researchers found that the hair loss drug Propecia is linked to depression. This is not the first time that the drug is in hot water for certain side effects that it causes. Just recently Propecia is also dragged into the news because of the sexual side effects that it creates. Incidentally so this particular side effect is also associated with depressive symptoms.
Months with Propecia lead men to develop sexual side effects such as a loss of libido, inability to achieve erection, infertility and poor semen quality. And the worst part here is that these side effects don’t even relieve even after the drug has been stopped.
Studies showed that those who suffered with these side effects were discovered to be at risk for severe depression and suicidal thoughts.
The study was conducted by Dr. Michael Irwig, who is an assistant professor of medicine at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He interviewed 61 men who are within the age of 25 who have used Finasteride, the generic name for Propecia. These men have not experienced sexual side effects for three months at before the treatment was started and with no history of mental illness.
During the initial study a lot of men reported that the men reported of depression and memory problems and other problems in cognition. Irwig speculated that the emotional and cognitive changes were due to action that Finasteride has on the brain.
The researcher also included interviews with 29 men suffering from male pattern baldness who have not taken Finasteride.
The mean scores of those men who are treated with Propecia were 23.67, while those in the control group were 5.93. Within these numbers, a total of 39% of those former Finasteride users answered that they thought of having suicide, while 5% claimed that they agree on the statement, “I would like to kill myself.”
In the control group only one case reported to have suicidal thoughts.
With this Irwig also surmised that aside from the depressive reaction that a man has when they lose their sexual abilities, there is also a chemical reaction that goes in the brain that can perfectly explain why this is.
He claims that Finasteride blocks a certain enzyme in the brain which is responsible in controlling the level of neuroactive steroids. And when these are in low amounts in the system, symptoms of depression can be observed. But Irwig suggests that this needs further research so that those prescribing the medications would give the patients a list of the complications that it can create.
The potential side effects of Finasteride or Propecia has on the nervous system can be very alarming and of course distressful to the one affected, that is why they should know what they could be exposing their body into. This should also be made clear in the product label.
But in a statement Merck, which is the company responsible for the production of Finasteride, claims that during their clinical studies the drug showed good safety and efficacy profiles. They added that the labelling of the product appropriately describes the risk and benefits to inform the prescribing physician and the patient.
So if you are looking for a relief to that balding head, make sure that you talk this through with your doctor. Never take anything without the proper consultation because with findings like this, you can expose yourself to serious complications later on.
