The Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a review of medicines containing finasteride and dutasteride following concerns about associated suicidal ideation and behaviors.
Medicines containing finasteride (5 mg tablets) and dutasteride (0.5 mg capsules) are approved to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Products containing finasteride are also used orally (1 mg tablets) or as a spray to prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth in men aged 18-41 years with early-stage androgenic alopecia. Both work by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha reductase responsible for the conversion of testosterone to 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone, thus slowing hair loss, stimulating hair growth, and reducing the size of the prostate.
Suicidal Ideation Frequency Unknown
Both…