New paper from Dr Michael Irwig demonstrates dire clinical reality facing patients

A new paper from Dr Michael Irwig, who published the first study about long-term sexual dysfunction in patients reporting Post-Finasteride Syndrome, was published this week.

The study, aimed at evaluating the beliefs of dermatologists about the adverse effects of finasteride, highlights the dire clinical reality facing PFS patients. Alarmingly, only 18% of dermatologists surveyed believed that finasteride could cause persistent sexual dysfunction after stopping the drug, despite mounting scientific evidence, and even regulatory warnings, to the contrary.

What’s perhaps even more concerning is that only one in two surveyed (51%) believed the drug could even cause on-drug side effects, something which is well-established in animals and even in the manufacturer’s own clinical trials that are almost three decades old. Less than a quarter believed the drug could cause depression or lower sperm cell counts.

It’s alarming that two decades after persistent adverse effects started being reported by men online, the attitudes and beliefs of clinicians most-commonly prescribing the drug have not kept pace with basic science, literature reviews and regulatory warnings. What’s of greater concern is that these attitudes are held about even some of the most commonly reported symptoms in Post-Finasteride Syndrome: Sexual dysfunction & depression. Attitudes about more severe and less common symptoms, such as physical and other neurological symptoms, were not surveyed. It demonstrates a desperate need for greater clinical awareness and acceptance.

It also demonstrates a significant risk to the consumer and a hidden public-health crisis. Roughly two-thirds of respondents counselled patients about the possibility of on-drug sexual side effects, while only half warned of potential permanent sexual problems. This should be of great concern for clinicians, regulators and consumers, as more often than not patients are not being given the opportunity to provide informed consent to the drug’s risks. These warnings also only pertained to persistent sexual dysfunction and not some of the more severe, less common physical & neurological symptoms.

These findings affirm the reality facing patients in the clinic who report persistent adverse effects after taking finasteride. Patients are too often unheard and their symptoms go unreported, creating a vicious cycle that contributes to further patient harm and absence of warning for consumers.

In our literature review, we spoke about the dangerous situation facing patients, clinicians, regulators and the consumer.

We encourage any clinicians, regulators or consumers considering the drug to read.