Comment in response to Finasteride Induced Depression?:

I found that reply highly inadequate. It seems Rassman, as valuable a resource as he is, can say nothing bad about Propecia (or Merck or the FDA). The sensible reaction to a study that shows a statistical difference in depressive symptoms among finasteride consumers ought to be a warning to depression sufferers. I find it peculiar for a man with a scientific background to (rightly) show severe skepticism toward alternative approaches to hair loss, but to conspicuously lack such skepticism about a drug whose only safety guarantee comes from a manufacturer-funded study from a corporation that has been shown to suffer from sponsorship bias. It’s unfortunate. More could be said beyond “this problem is rare [evidence?] and this drug is totally elective.” It’s the equivalent of, You don’t like it? Don’t take it! That option is obvious. Dr. Rassman should instead state the plain truth: The health consequences of long-term finasteride use (including irreversible biological changes) are uncertain, because that cannot be established by such minimal clinical study, and therefore taking the drug is a gamble.

Read the referenced study about finasteride and depression and you’ll find very clearly that it states, “In conclusion, this preliminary study suggests that finasteride might induce depressive symptoms. Although our data suggest a slight change, the side effect should be considered specially when the medication is prescribed for patients, who are more susceptible for it.”

If someone is going to get worked up about what could amount to nothing, simply not taking the medication would be the only logical solution. I don’t know what more I can tell you. Propecia is not a lifesaving drug and taking it is completely elective. I don’t downplay possible side effects, but the fact is, they are very rare in my practice. I have seen some cases of increased depression in previously depressed people, and changes in feelings or the way they think have also been noted. And of the few patients that have reported these side effects, all have elected to stop taking the medication for a month or so to see if the problem subsides. The drug has been available to the public for over a dozen years, so there is a massive number of patients taking it all over the world. The US FDA requires that drug companies report new side effects as they are reported by prescribing physicians.

It’s unfortunate that you feel the need to try to discredit me, but I’ve already written in the past about how the FDA isn’t perfect, I’ve got nothing to gain by kissing up to Merck, and common sense should tell you that some degree of gambling is involved when you take any drug. As I’ve said in the past, everyone can react differently to medication. With that in mind, Merck makes the only FDA approved oral hair loss treatment, and if it seems like I’m talking that medication up quite a bit, its because I’ve seen it work wonders and continue to see it daily in my patients.

Snippet from the article:

New warnings will be added to the packaging of Finasteride after five men in Britain taking the drug developed breast cancer.

An analysis by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency found a total of 53 men worldwide on the drug had developed breast cancer.

The report from the MHRA said: “Cases of male breast cancer have been reported for finasteride, and the review suggested that an increased risk of male breast cancer associated with finasteride use cannot be excluded.

“Patients using finasteride products should be advised to promptly report to their doctor any changes in their breast tissue such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge because these may be signs of a serious condition, such as breast cancer.

Read the full article at Telegraph UK

Keep in mind that this is for men taking the 5mg dose of finasteride for use in treating the prostate. The number of male breast cancer patients is so low that making statistical sense out of the data is relatively impossible. Warning labels after 53 men out of over a million men that take the medication developed breast cancer? It seems to me that this will create unnecessary fear by putting a warning right on the packaging, as I don’t believe there are any other warnings listed on the packaging itself (at least not on the US version that I’ve seen). Obviously, 53 out of a MILLION is not something I’d worry about. I have a greater risk of being hit by a car.

I have taken propecia and minoxidil for approximately 2 weeks (and have since stopped). I noticed blurred vision and believe it to be attributed to either the propecia or minoxidil, or both.

My questions is if my blurred vision is associated with either product. will the blurring go away now that I have stopped.

Please respond.

I haven’t read about it occurring with finasteride, but blurred vision is a side effect from minoxidil. You might want to see a doctor if it has not gone away for 2 weeks, as that would worry me.

Snippet from the article:

In a sleepy suburban street, police and undercover agents prepare to raid the HQ of a lucrative drugs ring. But this is not a squalid bedsit or dingy warehouse. It is a detached bungalow on a leafy lane in an affluent area. The cops are not after crack or heroin. They are hunting substances that many believe to be potentially even more dangerous – fake prescription medication.

There is big money being made in counterfeit medicines, which are sold mainly on the internet. The market is believed to be worth around £45million a year.

Read the rest at The Sun.

Oh, and finasteride is listed as one of those drugs that they’re hunting. This is just one of the reasons I’ve never recommended ordering prescription medications via the web. I know some people disregard this type of information, so even if you’re adamant about ordering prescription meds online, at least use common sense and be careful.