These hair loss meds can cost you your libido, warn dermatologists in Hyderabad

Finasteride and Minoxidil, used to treat baldness, can also cause erectile dysfunction and serious impairment of energy metabolism

Hyderabad: Are you planning to take Finasteride and Minoxidil to treat your baldness? Beware, these two drugs are known to cause side effects such as severe loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and serious impairment of energy metabolism.

Many young men in Hyderabad and elsewhere, who are going bald, are known to take Finasteride and Minoxidil, which are popular medications to treat hair loss, especially for male pattern baldness. While these medicines might lead to some hair growth, those who take them carry the risk of side effects, which include a severe drop in libido, wrecked confidence, erectile dysfunction, no vitality and serious impairment of energy metabolism.

There are even reports that such medications have the potential to impact sperm DNA, potentially causing genetic issues for the offspring. After the initial success of hair growth, those who took these medicines have acknowledged that they discontinued the medications because of such complications.

Senior dermatologists in Hyderabad point out that young men taking these medicine suffer from a wave of Post-Finasteride Syndrome – loss of libido, erectile dysfunctions and severe mood swings. According to doctors, the successful randomised control trials of the drugs were demonstrated on older men and not younger men, which is the reason why Post-Finasteride symptoms have become so controversial.

“There are safer alternatives and better ways at trying to grow scalp hair, instead of taking such medicines with potential to impact libido. I avoid prescribing such medicines. There is also a need for young dermatologists and hair-implant specialists to be aware of serious side effects of these high powered steroids before prescribing them,” says Dr Venkata Krishna, former professor and head of dermatology, Osmania Medical College. “Such drugs are also taken without any consultation or prescription. Young people tend to directly approach a drug store and buy these drugs over the counter (OTC). These drugs should strictly be sold on prescription,” says Dr Krishna.

Apart from impacting libido, regulatory authorities in Europe are investigating link of Finasteride to suicidal ideation. Reports have suggested that the European Medical Agency’s (EMA) Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee has started a review of medicines containing Finasteride following concerns about associated suicidal ideation and behaviours. “Such medicines may react differently from person to person. That’s why, they have to be prescribed by a doctor,” Dr Krishna points out.