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Former finasteride users with sexual side effects at increased risk for depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts
A significant number of men who developed persistent sexual side effects from taking finasteride (Propecia and Proscar) also suffer from depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts, according to a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Finasteride is a commonly prescribed 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. In April 2012, FDA announced that labels of 2 formulations of finasteride, used to treat enlarged prostate and male-pattern baldness, were revised to indicate that additional sexual side effects may persist after the drug has been discontinued.
Finasteride 5 mg (Proscar, Merck) was approved by FDA in 1992 for the treatment of symptoms related to enlarged prostate. Finasteride 1 mg (Propecia, Merck) was approved by FDA in 1997 for the treatment of male-pattern hair loss in males only.
"Although the incidence of persistent sexual side effects in unknown, the potential risk of suicide is very serious and needs to be carefully considered," Dr Irwig told Formulary. "Men contemplating the use of finasteride and prescribers of finasteride need to be aware of its potentially serious side effects."
In 2010 to 2011, former users of finasteride with persistent sexual side effects for ≥3 months were administered standardized interviews. All former users were otherwise healthy men with no baseline sexual dysfunction, chronic medical conditions, current or past psychiatric conditions, or use of oral prescription medications before or during finasteride use. A control group of men, recruited from the community had male pattern hair loss but had never used finasteride and denied any history of psychiatric medications. The primary outcomes were the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the prevalence of suicidal thoughts as determined by the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II); all subjects self-administered this questionnaire at the time of the interview or up to 10 months later.
Researchers at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, found that otherwise healthy men who developed persistent sexual side effects associated with finasteride had very high rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts as measured by the BDI-II.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
