Rebuttals to denialists
Physicians have used flimsy arguments to cast doubt on 5-alpha syndrome. They overlook social context, misread literature, omit inconvenient facts and disparage patients. Rebuttals for each of these arguments are provided.
Denial and skepticism
Response to Dr. Ralph Trüeb’s writings on post-finasteride syndrome
A drug-induced syndrome is all in the mind, a Swiss doctor wrote. Editors of the journals had past ties to the drug maker. Men turn to finasteride to try to save their hair, but they might end up with a severe and lasting disability.1 There are countless stories online, usually anonymous because of the embarrassing … Read more
Finasteride defenders: Articles in Hair Transplant Forum International
Several members of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) have argued that persistent adverse effects of finasteride are improbable or invalid. The Society’s journal, Hair Transplant Forum International, has published numerous articles on the topic (the journal is not peer-reviewed). Subscriptions are limited to ISHRS members, but full text of some articles is … Read more
‘Safe and well-tolerated’: Arguments used to discredit reports of persistent adverse effects
Summary It cannot simultaneously be true that finasteride is considered “safe” as a treatment for male pattern hair loss and that the drug causes severe and permanent sexual dysfunction in some men. Since 2011, dozens of papers have investigated its adverse effects, with some concluding that finasteride is safe for treating hair loss despite complaints … Read more