Trigger Depression and Suicide, Hair Loss Drugs

Hair Loss

Bald hair often makes men loose their confidence. Baldness usually occurs because the hair fall off due to age, food influence, or mind. In order not to reduce their appearance, men use drugs to cope with hair loss.

A research of the experts from George Washington University indicates, men must be very careful to use drugs for hair loss. Men who use hair loss drug Finasteride (Propecia) are at increased risk of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.

Earlier, in 2011, a study found that finasteride caused long-term sexual dysfunction. Impotency and sexual problems, the researchers said, were the most common symptoms of the side effects. In some users, the side effects can not be avoided. Twenty percent from the respondents reported experiencing sexual dysfunction for more than six years after they stopped taking it.

The latest study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, started from 61 findings of former Finasteride users who had experienced sexual disorders for more than three months. Among the respondents, 11 percent had mild depression, 28 percent had medium depression, and 36 percent experienced severe symptoms. 44 percent were reported to have suicidal thoughts.

As a comparison, the researchers grouped 29 people who experienced hair loss but never took Finasteride. As many as 10 percent of them experienced symptoms of depression and 3 percent were reported to have suicidal thoughts. All of these men were in good health, had no record of sexual dysfunction, without influence of medical drugs and in a healthy mental state as well.

Irwig suspects, emotional and mental change after using the drug is closely related to the effect of Finasteride that works in the brain. In the classification of drugs, finasteride is known as the 5 - alpha which inhibits the production of certain hormones.

Pharmaceutical company, Merck, as the manufacturer claimed that the drug of Propecia has proven its efficacy and safety, and it had been attached also the instruction of using it  on the product label. On the drug's label, there was information containing the benefits and its risks. "We encourage the patients to consult with the doctor if there are complaints about their health because of using Propecia." said a spokesman of Merck.