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The MHRA has recommended further measures to minimise the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours associated with finasteride and dutasteride.

The product information for these medicines is being updated to provide more information on these side effects, following a review of the evidence. Finasteride patient cards, introduced in 2024, already highlight the risks of psychiatric and sexual side effects.

Healthcare professionals are being advised to inform patients of the risks at point of prescribing and advise them to read the finasteride patient card and the patient leaflets which are both supplied in the 1 mg and 5 mg packs.

Finasteride is associated with depression, suicidal ideation and sexual dysfunction which may persist after treatment is stopped. Although the data for dutasteride is limited, its product information has been updated as a precaution

Patients prescribed finasteride or dutasteride should be advised consult their healthcare professional as soon as possible if they develop suicidal thoughts or depression, or if they experience sexual dysfunction.

Finasteride is a 5 alpha-reductase-inhibitor. The 1mg dose is indicated in men for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). The 5mg dose is indicated for the treatment and control of benign prostatic hyperplasia in adults.

Dutasteride is also a 5-alpha-reductase-inhibitor, indicated for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (0.5mg daily dose) and reduction in the risk of acute urinary retention. It is available as dutasteride alone or in combination with tamsulosin.

Prescribing data suggests more than 400,000 prescriptions per month are issued for finasteride 5mg and dutasteride-containing medicines. As finasteride 1mg is not prescribed on the NHS, accurate prescription numbers are not available.

Yellow Card data since 1994 to May 2025 includes 170 reports of suicidal ideation for finasteride (1mg and 5mg) and five reports for dutasteride 0.5mg. There were 19 fatal reports of suicide for finasteride and no fatal reports of suicide for dutasteride.