My Friend Found Anti-Propecia Articles Online, But I’ve Had No Side Effects

Dr. Rassman,

I have been taking Propecia for 2 years with some positive results. One of my friends, who is also losing his hair, commented on my progress and asked what my secret was. I told him about Propecia, a drug which he has surprisingly never heard about, and he did some research online. A few days later when I spoke with him again, he came across countless articles and webpages stating how dangerous the drug is, cursing my name for even suggesting he take it. He showed me one article in particular that indicated that Finasteride inhibits crucial neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone, and many people online concluded that finasteride can likely cause serious neurological problems down the road. Have you seen this article, and are you able to comment on the validity of these types of conclusions?

I have not experienced any side effects thus far, but I want to ensure I am not setting myself up for disaster down the road. After all, I trust the word of a doctor over a thousand know-it-all’s who post in message boards!

Thank you kindly for your time

Your personal story is like the thousands of men I treat with Propecia (finasteride), including my own son. The internet does tend to blow information out of proportion at times, and Propecia seems to have polarized many balding young men.

I’ve written much about this medication on this blog, so the search box at the top might have what you’re looking for. As for your friend, if you’re not experiencing any negative effects and have seen positive results, I don’t know what more he might be looking for. It’s a prescription drug and completely elective. If he has hair loss and wants to take it (or just wants more info), he should talk to his doctor.