Emerging evidence & commentary on risks of finasteride as a treatment for hair loss
Fitness influencers draw in an audience of younger men who want to be stronger, better-performing, and in some cases more attractive. Some guys worry that hair loss will dim their prospects for dating, sex and relationships—or even professional success. In the era of Instagram, body-hacking and telehealth companies such as Hims and Keeps, young men’s … Read more
Along with finasteride and saw palmetto, dutasteride has been linked a post-drug disorder in some men. This post contains firsthand reports of lasting dysfunctions after taking dutasteride, and stopping the drug.
Men turn to saw palmetto, a plant-based supplement, because prescription drugs may be unavailable or too costly. Some see the palm supplement as having a lower risk of side effects. Regulators say it is safe, but online, it is not difficult to find reports of men with adverse experiences after using saw palmetto which resemble the post-finasteride disorder.
Since online polls are anonymous, there is less risk to disclosing embarrassing side effects. In online polls, the rate of side effects was 6.2x greater than the rate of adverse events in a clinical trial. The clinical setting may suppress safety concerns in sensitive areas such as sexuality and mental state.
This is an Appendix to the post: Polls vs. official data on side effect rates. Summary Mobile users: swipe left to see more columns. ID & source Date posted Participants % with side effects % with severe or persistent side effects P1. r/tressless Jan 2016 146 53.4% NA P2. r/HairLoss Jul 2021 110 27.3% NA … Read more