Popular Hair Loss Drug Linked to Higher Suicide Risk

Finasteride has long been a popular choice for millions of people seeking to achieve thicker hair. It was marketed as a cosmetic treatment for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), but beneath its appeal of luscious locks lies a darker story, one that’s now being brought to light by a sweeping new review from Mayer Brezis and colleagues at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Brezis’ review, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, combines findings from eight key research studies: four reports that look at side effects experienced by individuals, and four studies that analyze large datasets of health records. This research took place between 2017 and 2023, and the results are certainly concerning: compared to non-users, finasteride users have a markedly increased risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

Sold under the brand names Proscar and Propecia among others, finasteride works by blocking the enzyme 5α-reductase, which changes testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that causes AGA hair follicles to shrink. But that same enzyme also helps make important brain chemicals called neurosteroids, like allopregnanolone, that help control mood. When the drug interferes with their production, it may cause lasting changes in the brain, such as inflammation in areas linked to memory and emotion, and changes in how new brain cells are formed.

Studies in animals and reports from people show that the side effects of this drug can continue even after someone stops taking it. In some cases, they’ve been severe enough to lead to suicide.