Review links finasteride to suicide risk

A new review by Prof. Mayer Brezis, published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, concludes there is sufficient evidence that finasteride — prescribed for male pattern hair loss — carries genuine risks of depression, anxiety and suicidality, citing multiple studies from 2002 onward and eight analyses between 2017 and 2023. The paper urges stronger post‑marketing safety analysis and even market withdrawal, while noting the FDA added depression (2011) and suicidality (2022) warnings; manufacturer Organon says it stands by the drug’s safety and efficacy.