Grey literature

Grey literature refers to materials outside peer-reviewed journal articles. These materials take many different forms including article preprints, theses and dissertations, presentations, medical news and regulatory documents.

See also: Sources on guevedoces and the early history of finasteride • News & media coverage

Dissertations

Alanazi N. Assessing the quality of life and health outcomes of Androgenic Alopecia patients using Propecia. [Dissertation]. New Brunswick: Rutgers University; 2016. doi:10.7282/T351418H

Delella, FK. Efeito da finasterida e da doxazosina sobre a próstata de rato: análise ultra-estrutural e da expressão dos colágenos tipo I e III e do TGF-β 1 [Effect of finasteride and doxazosin on rat prostate: ultrastructural analysis and expression of type I and III collagens and TGF-β1]. [Dissertation]. Spanish. Campinas, Spain: Universidade Estadual De Campinas; 2010. doi:10.47749/T/UNICAMP.2010.777194 • Handle:20.500.12733/1613250

Garcia PV. Alterações morfométricas, estereológicas e funcionais no epidídimo e parâmetros de fertilidade em ratos tratados com finasterida [Morphometric, stereological and functional changes in the epididymis and fertility parameters in rats treated with finasteride]. [Dissertation]. Spanish. Campinas, Spain: Universidade Estadual de Campinas; 2012. doi:10.47749/T/UNICAMP.2012.872488 • Handle:20.500.12733/1618340

Upreti R. Metabolic effects of 5α-reductase inhibition in humans. [Dissertation]. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Medical School; 2013. Handle:1842/11745

Government sources

See also: Regulation overview

Adverse events of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD), U.S. National Institutes of Health. Unavailable on public web as of 2023. Archived versions: June 20, 2021 and November 21, 2015 (both via Wayback Machine, Internet Archive).

Post-finasteride syndrome. Prescriber Update (New Zealand Medsafe). 2016 March;37(1):8-9. (Archived at archive.is)

Medical & pharma industry news

See also: Articles in Hair Transplant Forum International

Ault A. New finasteride lawsuit brings renewed attention to psychiatric, ED adverse event reports. Medscape Medical News. September 23, 2021.

Besser verträgliche Alopezie-Therapie mit topischem Finasterid? [Better tolerated alopecia therapy with topical finasteride?]. DAZ.online. 2022 Feb 13. German.

Blumenstyk G. Medical journal reviews policy on authors’ conflicts of interest. Chronicle of Higher Education. Oct 8, 1999; 46(7): A24.

Case reports suggest a broader range of sexual adverse events in patients receiving finasteride [Propecia, Proscar] than previously reported. React Wkly. 2012;1398(2). doi:10.2165/00128415-201213980-00005

Collier R. Propecia lawsuits: the lasting effects of delayed drug warnings. CMAJ. 2013 Jul 9;185(10):E455-E456. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-4488 • PubMed

Conaglen HM, Conaglen JV. Drug-induced sexual dysfunction in men and women. Aust Prescr. 2013 Apr 2;36:42-5. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2013.021

Direct to consumer advertising: finasteride for male pattern hair loss. Therapeutics Initiative. 2001 Apr 30:40.

Does finasteride lead to permanent sexual side effects? The Dermatologist. 2012 Sep;20(9). Unavailable on website. Available on archive.org

Finasteride: potential risks of suicidal ideation and self-injury. Reactions Weekly. 2023;1942:5. doi:10.1007/s40278-023-32614-7

Haarwuchs mit Folgen: Das Post-Finasterid-Syndrom im Spiegel der Wissenschaft [Hair growth with consequences: post-finasteride syndrome in a scientific light]. Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung. 8 Mar 2023;10/23. German. Abstract in English via Post-Finasteride Syndrome Foundation.

Merck prostate reducing agent MK-906 is in clinicals. The Pink Sheet. May 4, 1987.

Neuroaktive Steroide im Visier: ein Gespräch mit Prof. Dr. Michael Zitzmann zu den Hintergründen des Post-Finasterid-Syndroms [Neuroactive steroids in view: a conversation with Prof. Dr. Michael Zitzmann on the background of post-finasteride syndrome]. Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung. 19 Apr 2018;16:29. German.

Petrou I. Androgenetic alopecia risk IDed with genetic test. Dermatology Times. April 2020.

Post-finasteride syndrome. Prescriber Update (New Zealand). 2016 March;37(1):8-9. (Archived at archive.is)

Sohn JY. Generics to challenge GSK’s prostate, hair loss drug in Korea. January 22, 2016.

Newsletters & advisories

See Advisories in Resources.

Should I worry about finasteride side effects even after stopping the drug? Harvard Health Publishing. September 11, 2021.

Patient & lay perspectives

Blog posts

Campbell J. How (and why) to stop using DHT inhibitors finasteride & dutasteride. Jay Campbell. Published July 29, 2021. Accessed July 16, 2022.

Price R. A long, hard and honest look at Propecia – Is it worth the risk? Hair Loss Daily. Published January 4, 2023. Accessed August 7, 2023.

Propecia victim starts hunger strike in front of Merck headquarters in the United States. The health risks of taking finasteride. Published September 5, 2012. Accessed August 24, 2022.

Seau S. Is Propecia (finasteride) a poison disguised as a miracle hair loss drug? Return of Kings. Published June 19, 2015. Accessed August 24, 2022.

Blogs & websites

Dauerhafte Nebenwirkungen von Finasterid [Lasting side effects of finasteride]. post-finasterid-syndrom.de. German. Accessed January 21, 2023.

The health risks of taking finasteride. finasterideeffects.blogspot.com. Published Aug 2012–May 2013. Accessed August 19, 2022.

Post finasteride syndrome: la sindrome post finasteride. postfinasteridesyndrome.blogspot.com. Published Aug 2011–Oct 2012. Italian, English. Accessed August 22, 2022.

Propecia side effects. propeciasideeffects.com. Published 2014. Accessed August 22, 2022.

Riscos do finasterida [Risks of finasteride]. riscosdofinasterida.blogspot.com. Published 2011–2015. Portuguese (Brazil). Accessed August 22, 2022.

Documents

Anonymous. Post finasteride syndrome (PFS). Submission to June 2019 meeting of Advisory Committee on Medicines, Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia). Undated. Accessed July 16, 2022. PDF

Bourtzalas S. PSSD, PFS, PRSD: A perspective for aetiology and treatment. OSF Preprints. 2023 Apr 4. doi:10.31219/osf.io/jxnbu

FDA Patient Listening Session on Post-Finasteride Syndrome. PFS Network. June 2, 2023. Summary (PDF)

Podcast

Ryan Clark: Keep your hair, ruin your life — how the hair growth medication Propecia broke his body: Post Finasteride Syndrome [Podcast episode]. Medical Error Interviews. February 22, 2021.

Video

An Ear for Men. Finasteride: Is Curing Hair Loss Worth the Risk? [Video]. YouTube. Published June 30, 2021.

Jefferies J. [Comments on effects of hair loss medication on sex drive: 18:50–19:56] in Jim Jefferies: High & Dry [Stand-up comedy]. Netflix. Released February 14, 2023.

Propeciatruth [Video channel]. YouTube. 2010–2011. Accessed August 24, 2022.

Physician & researcher perspectives

Blogs & web pages

Bernstein Medical. Answers. [See ‘Persistent Side Effects From Propecia’]. Accessed August 7, 2023. Archived at archive.is

Bernstein Medical. Posts on ‘Propecia Persistent Side Effects’. Accessed August 7, 2023. Archived at archive.is

Clearfield W. Post finasteride syndrome. Includes slides for presentation to American Osteopathic Society of Rheumatic Diseases – Congress of Medical Excellence 3.0 (dated March 21, 2021); and white paper (undated). May 4, 2021. Accessed July 16, 2022.

Hearnshaw J. The devastating effects of finasteride: post-finasteride syndrome (PFS). The Men’s Health Clinic (UK). November 16, 2021. Accessed August 8, 2022.

Hoffman R. Advocacy group spin may skew discussion on finasteride side effects. HealthNewsReview.org. August 12, 2015. Accessed July 16, 2022.

Jacobs A. A potentially new treatment for post-finasteride syndrome. March 2, 2022. Accessed August 1, 2022.

Jacobs A. A neuroendocrine approach to finasteride side effects in men. Alan Jacobs MD’s Blog. April 6, 2010. At Internet Archive.

Maupin K. The ugly truth about finasteride – the post finasteride syndrome. June 7, 2021. BioBalance Health; St. Louis & Kansas City, MO. Accessed August 8, 2022.

Moncrieff, J. Persistent withdrawal and lasting damage from prescribed drugs. Joanna Moncrieff [blog]. April 1, 2019. Accessed July 16, 2022.

Podcasts

Attia P, Khera M. 260 ‒ Men’s sexual health: why it matters, what can go wrong, and how to fix it [Video]. The Peter Attia Drive Podcast. YouTube. Published June 26, 2023. Segment on post-finasteride syndrome from 2:18:07.

Huberman A. The science of healthy hair, hair loss and how to regrow hair [Video]. Huberman Lab Podcast. YouTube. Published April 10, 2023. Segment on post-finasteride syndrome from 1:51:01: Transcript • Video.

Presentations, webinars & posters

See also: Abstracts at bottom of each year in main bibliography.

Clearfield W. Post finasteride syndrome. Slides for presentation to American Osteopathic Society of Rheumatic Diseases – Congress of Medical Excellence 3.0. March 21, 2021. Slides are accompanied by an undated white paper. Accessed July 16, 2022.

Crisler J. The Post-Finasteride Syndrome [Video]. PFS Foundation channel. YouTube. Published August 27, 2012; date of presentation unknown.

Grimalt R. Post-finasteride syndrome (CS2-3). 10th World Congress for Hair Research; October 31–November 3, 2017; Kyoto, Japan. Program at archive.org

Ibarra Vilar P, Marín Pérez A, Hernández Peñalver AI, et al. Genitales ambiguos tras toma de finasteride [Ambiguous genitalia after taking finasteride]. Presented at: XXVII Reunión de la Sociedad Ginecológica Murciana: Laparoscopia ginecológica. March 4, 2017; Hospital Comarcal del Noroeste, Caravaca de la Cruz, Spain. Content warning: includes a sensitive image of a fetus. Abstract (Spanish) • English translation

Jacobs A. Post-finasteride syndrome and the neuroendocrine system. ISHRS 24th World Congress; September 2016; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Lew-Starowicz M, Reisman Y. Sexual dysfunction post SSRI and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors [Video]. Presented at: ESSM and IBSA Webinar (European Society for Sexual Medicine and Institut Biochimique SA); May 19, 2022.

[⚠️ Dr. KT McVary was 1) a paid consultant for Merck for the MTOPS trial; 2) co-author of a publication on the MTOPS trial; and 3) retained by Merck as an expert for Propecia litigation, as disclosed in Baas et al., 2018.] McVary KT. Post-finasteride syndrome: an evaluation of the FAERS data on 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. Fact, fantasy or forget about it? Lecture at: Indiana Urologic Association 2018 Annual Meeting; February 24, 2018; Indianapolis, Indiana. Program (PDF) – see p. 5.

Pastuszak A. Post finasteride syndrome [Video]. Utah Men’s Health channel. YouTube. Published July 11, 2019.

Reisman Y [Poster]. Post SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) and Post-Finasteride syndrome (PFS). Presented at: 12th European Congress of Andrology; October 19–21, 2022; Barcelona, Spain.

Tempus Hair Restoration. Movember, Finasteride for Hair Loss and the Post-Finasteride Syndrome [Video]. Facebook: The Hair Geek. November 25, 2020. [Segment on post-finasteride syndrome begins at 21:01]

Uloko M. Common Drug-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Men [Video]. 30th Annual Perspectives in Urology: Point-Counterpoint. March 10, 2023.

Uloko M. Post finasteride syndrome [Video]. Webinar: Unusual sexual medicine conditions and their management [Agenda]. Sexual Medicine Society of North America. July 27, 2021.

Washenik K. Update on the post-finasteride controversy (LC-6). 10th World Congress for Hair Research [Program]; October 31–November 3, 2017; Kyoto, Japan.

Press releases & interviews

Campbell KJ. Dr. Campbell assesses adverse effects of finasteride in patients with alopecia and BPH [Video]. SMSNA Meeting coverage in Urology Times. October 25, 2021. (See also interview in Urology Times, SMSNA conference abstract and poster.)

Gordon M, Millenium Health Centers. Post-finasteride syndrome (PFS): a surmountable challenge for clinicians and a newfound hope for patients. PR Newswire. September 2, 2020.

Hart J. Dr. Campbell discusses SMSNA study on adverse drug reactions associated with finasteride. Urology Times. November 10, 2021. (See also video interview in Urology Times, SMSNA conference abstract and poster.)

Huberman A. Dr. Andrew Huberman — A Neurobiologist on Optimizing Sleep, Performance, and Testosterone (#521). The Tim Ferriss Show. July 8, 2021. Transcript (search for ‘finasteride’)

Irwig MS. Michael Irwig study quotes [Video]. YouTube: The George Washington University channel. March 9, 2011.

JAMA Dermatology. Adverse event reporting in clinical trials of finasteride for alopecia: Interview with authors SM Belknap and TJ Moore [Audio]. JN Learning on AMA Ed Hub. April 1, 2015. Audio at JN Learning

Maurice Collins interview [Video]. YouTube: You Need to be Yourself You Can’t be No One Else, episode 6. Hair Transplant Surgery – HRBR – Hair Restoration Blackrock. [Finasteride discussed from 26:00]

Preprints & unpublished studies

Brezis M. Neuropsychiatric reactions to finasteride: nocebo or true effect? Authorea. 2022 Aug 10. doi:10.22541/au.166012115.57216742/v1

Fusaroli M, Simonsen A, Borrie SA, et al. Identifying medications underlying communication atypicalities in psychotic and affective disorders: a pharmacovigilance study within the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. medRxiv. Published online 2022. doi:10.1101/2022.09.05.22279609

Green A. Finasteride and male breast cancer – a register-based nested case-control study in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden (MK-0906-162) [results in Documents tab]. European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance, European Medicines Agency. Final report: May 2, 2018.

Montaigne M. A proposed etiopathology of persistent dysfunctions emerging from use and discontinuation of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors: sequelae of drug-mediated microvasculopathy. OSF. 2022 Feb 11. doi:10.31219/osf.io/86cnm

Regulatory documents

See Regulatory document library

Studies in progress

Flynn R. Suicide and suicidality after exposure to finasteride [study in progress]. Research centre: European Medicines Agency, The Netherlands. Start date: January 2020.