Decision to take finasteride?

On one hand, I really want to hop on fin. Because I’m not ready to lose my hair. Sure, taking a medication for 10+ years is not exactly jolly, but it’s better than losing my hair. I’ve seen much evidence pointing to the fact that finasteride is safe and effective. It’s a well tolerated medication and if you do experience side effects, it can be mitigated with titration adjustments. And discontinuation will most definitely end any side effects.

Here comes the issue:

On the OTHER hand, I do see a lot of compelling evidence against it. I’ve read about the effects on allopregnanolone, an important neurosteroid. Finasteride DOES kill this hormone off, since it relies on 5AR. However, we don’t see many side effects in most people anyway, so what the hell?

And to muddy the water even further, there are things such as Merck lying about other medications and the scandal with the FDA and finasteride.  Can you chime in on this? Thank you

I tell my patients that it is worth trying if you really have genetic balding and it is active. The odds are 96% that you will not get sexual side effects. It has to do a lot with your state of mind. If you try it and you get any significant side effects (sexual of otherwise) then you can always stop it.