The long-term side effects of Propecia (Finasteride)

[GoatsHair]

Hi guys,

All of my research so far points me in the direction of starting Propecia (finasteride) and staying on it for the rest of my hair's life...

Before I commit to such a medication, I was wondering if anyone has done any research or found any good websites on what the "long-term" drawbacks or side effects are to having your DHT Levels reduced. This drug doesn't just find it's way to your scalp... it's in your bloodstream so goes everywhere.

The positives so far that I have read about is (1) a reduction in hair thinning in most patients and (2) possibly helping your prostate from enlarging since Proscar is the same drug at a higher dosage...

...So, now, what about the long-term negatives to reducing your DHT Levels? Side Effects during their clinical study were minimal... 1% this, 2% that, short half-life... not too scary... BUT what about the long-term side effects / negatives of reducing your DHT Levels? Does anyone know what these are yet?

Thanks guys.

 

[philly]

...

 

[GoatsHair]

Well... say that nothing better does come out... and you take it for the rest of your hair's life.... what are the long term effects of reducing your DHT Levels, taking finasteride starting at age 35 and continuing on for many, many years...

Has anyone researched this?

:freaked2:

 

[Mew]

Read the studies in the Finasteride Studies of http://www.propeciahelp.com for your answers. For example:

http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511

Also read through this: http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/nda/97/0207 ... ia_toc.htm

And this: http://www.physics.upenn.edu/facultyinf ... index.html


The below screenshots are from http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/nda/97/2078 ... EDR_P4.PDF

PAGE 4, Page 6, PAGE 7

 

[Pondle]

Goatshair, you should speak to a medical professional before deciding whether or not to take Propecia.

In reference to the debate about long-term safety and specifically the relationship between finasteride and prostate cancer, there are explanations for the higher prevalence of high-grade prostate tumours in the finasteride-treated group in the Prostate Cancer Prevention trial.

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/cont ... 99/18/1366
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/in ... f=8102le13

This has been posted several times, if you do a board search you'll probably turn up numerous threads.

 

[GoatsHair]

Thanks guys for the links... good stuff.

I'm only 35 and my main concerns are the long-term side effects... and weighing how much I'm willing to accept those side effects for the sake of my hair.

This is the kind of stuff that I'm worried about... is it worth the potential "unknown" risks? I don't know...

• 
  http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/reprint/89/12/6359
  
  "In this study, chronic inhibition of 5-reductase was associated not only with sexual dysfunction and gynecomastia, but also with a worrisome increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Keeping in mind a higher incidence of breast cancer reported by the other group (3), it seems reasonable to believe that long-term treatment with finasteride may disturb androgen-estrogen balance to the extent that may result in carcinogenesis.
  
  Many epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that prostate hyperplasia and cancer develop more frequently in a hormonal milieu where estrogens predominate over androgens, as it happens in aging males. The inhibition of 5-reductase further shifts the hormonal imbalance associated with aging by decreasing 5-dihydrotestosterone and increasing testosterone, which in turn may be locally aromatized to estrogens. The aberrant up-regulation of aromatase expression in benign prostate hypertrophy and prostate cancer (4) makes this scenario even more probable. "
  
  ...and posts like these... http://www.hairlosshelp.com/forums/mess ... adid=74620

Has anyone else done any additional research on the potential long-term side effects if finasteride? Please add some more posts... thank you.

 

[Mew]

If you are that concerned, don't take it. It's not worth the risk, no matter how "rare".

Otherwise, more stories can be found here:

http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.a ... e=PROPECIA
http://www.askdocweb.com/propecia2.html

And of course, http://www.propeciasideeffects.com and http://www.propeciahelp.com , 2 sites dedicated to spreading the word about the irreversible, permanent damage this drug can cause to your sexual/mental function and overall health.

If that's not sufficient for you to make a decision, go right ahead and pop those pills. Just don't complain if you end up having problems down the road, since you were warned.

 

[RaginDemon]

this question has been asked more than 100 times already.

Before you bash Propecia, use your logic to think about it, the drug has been out for more than 10 years, if it really does that much harm to the users, why is it still in the market?

It does have potential sides and it is a risk you must take, if you think it will cause more harm than good, do NOT take it.

 

[Cassin]

Sometimes people come on here and are very worried before they take it.

I would guess 100 % of the time if they pop their first pill they freak out thinking they have every side effect they can imagine and stop taking it.

If I were you I would not even waste the time and energy it will take and look into something else.

I have been taking it for about 5 years and have had great success with no sides.

 

[Pondle]

Perhaps a thread with a balanced discussion of the argument about postulated serious / 'long-term' sides could be made a sticky? That would avoid further repetitive discussions.

 

[Cassin]

Its a good idea in theory but it won't work.

Most people ignore stickies.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Read the studies in the Finasteride Studies of propeciahelp.com for your answers. For example:

http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511

Also read through this: http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/nda/97/0207 ... ia_toc.htm

And this: http://www.physics.upenn.edu/facultyinf ... index.html


The below screenshots are from http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/nda/97/2078 ... EDR_P4.PDF

PAGE 4, Page 6, PAGE 7

Bone perimiters? so what you can get brittle bones with propecia?

 

[Pondle]

No.

The long-term effect of specific type II 5alpha-reductase inhibition with finasteride on bone mineral density in men: results of a 4-year placebo controlled trial.
Matsumoto AM, Tenover L, McClung M, Mobley D, Geller J, Sullivan M, Grayhack J, Wessells H, Kadmon D, Flanagan M, Zhang GK, Schmidt J, Taylor AM, Lee M, Waldstreicher J; Pless Study Group.
VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

PURPOSE: We determine the effect of long-term suppression of dihydrotestosterone with finasteride, a specific type II 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, on bone mineral density. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of a large (3,040 cases) 4-year, double-blind, placebo controlled trial designed to assess the long-term effects of finasteride in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 157 men 46 to 76 years old who were randomized to receive either 5 mg. finasteride or placebo underwent dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine at baseline and at years 2, 3 and 4. RESULTS: Of 117 patients who had a baseline measurement and at least 1 additional measurement during the study baseline mean plus or minus standard deviation bone mineral density values were 1.12 +/- 0.17 gm./cm.2 in the finasteride group (63) and 1.10 +/- 0.17 gm./cm.2 in the placebo group (54). After 4 years bone mineral density was not different between treatment groups (finasteride 1.14 +/- 0.17 gm./cm.2 and placebo 1.13 +/- 0.18 gm./cm.2). Similar results were obtained for the 33 finasteride and 25 placebo treated patients who completed the study with year 4 bone mineral density measurements. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that long-term inhibition of type II 5alpha-reductase with finasteride does not adversely affect bone mineral density.

PMID: 11956450 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Prolonged treatment with finasteride (a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor) does not affect bone density and metabolism.
Matzkin H, Chen J, Weisman Y, Goldray D, Pappas F, Jaccard N, Braf Z.
Department of Urology, Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel.

OBJECTIVE: Since it is not clear whether testosterone or dihydrotestosterone is the active hormone in bone metabolism, we wished to assess the effect of finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, or vertebral bone mineral density and parameters of bone and mineral metabolism. DESIGN: Patients were treated in a randomized, double-blind controlled study with either placebo, 1 or 5 mg/day finasteride. PATIENTS: Twenty-three men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were included in this study; eight received placebo, seven were allocated to treatment with 1 mg/day, and eight to 5 mg/day finasteride for 12 months. MEASUREMENTS: Vertebral bone mineral density was measured at the lumbar spine by dual energy X-ray bone densitometry. Serum calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin and vitamin D metabolites were measured regularly. Urinary calcium and creatinine excretion were monitored as well. RESULTS: Finasteride caused a significant decrease in serum dihydrotestosterone after 6 and 12 months, but no effect on serum testosterone. Vertebral bone mineral density remained unaltered. None of the other parameters monitored were affected except for a small unexplained increase in 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the group receiving 5 mg finasteride/day. CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone is probably the active hormone in bone metabolism. However, oestradiol, the product of testosterone aromatization (which remains unaltered under finasteride) may yet be another possible responsible steroid in the maintenance of bone density. We can also not rule out that the small amount of dihydrotestosterone remaining under finasteride administration is sufficient for maintaining normal bone metabolism.

PMID: 1283117 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

[GoatsHair]

Interesting research, Pondle... anyone else have any words of wisdom on this topic? ... long-term side effects of Propecia (finasteride)?

I just visited my doctor and he was hesitent to recommend Propecia... gave me a script anyhow; but, isn't a fan of "hormone therapy" as he described it.

Now I'm not sure what to do... :shakehead:

 

[TonyTheTiger]

Interesting research, Pondle... anyone else have any words of wisdom on this topic? ... long-term side effects of Propecia (finasteride)?

I just visited my doctor and he was hesitent to recommend Propecia... gave me a script anyhow; but, isn't a fan of "hormone therapy" as he described it.

Now I'm not sure what to do... :shakehead:

damn thats scary why would he say that is propecia really hormone thearapy?

it sucks cause even if you waited to get a Hair transplant the doctor tells you to take finasteride still so either way you jacked.

 

[bubka]

wow, tony is persuaded again or scared by something...

 

[RaginDemon]

wow, tony is persuaded again or scared by something...

I like the word "again".