Journal - Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride: C

tenyearuser · May 25, 2018, 7:28am

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 … 9/abstract

Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride: Could They Be Permanent?

prop · May 25, 2018, 7:28am

“old” study

spstriken · May 25, 2018, 7:28am

yes they are permanent, like side effects from Accutane ( I have read many cases of accutan still suffering since 1996). We don’t need any study. we cases as old as ten years or may be more. Do you think after ten years you can go back? I would say highly unlikely unless there is a revolutionary breakthrough or some miraculous discovery.

tab · May 25, 2018, 7:28am

Spstriken, permanent imo means that your side effects persist undefintely. It doesn’t necessary mean they are irreversible. Side effects going on for 1 year are enough to state they are permanent. So there is really NO DOUBT that they are permanent.

Mew · May 25, 2018, 7:28am

This isn’t the study, it’s a letter to the editor… ie, other doctors responding to Irwig’s study in the journal.

tenyearuser · May 25, 2018, 7:28am

I wish someone could post their responses if they have access. I can’t drop $35 on it, but I’m curious.

whoah · May 25, 2018, 7:28am

Here is the entire text of that article:

The article entitled “Persistent sexual side effects of finasteride: could they be permanent?” by Irwig reported that sexual side effects of finasteride persist in 96% of patients despite discontinuation of the medication [1].

Social media, especially Internet forums may be useful for sharing different issues including side effects of a prescribed drug. In Irwig’s study [1], most subjects were recruited from a previous study [2] that had recruited subjects primarily from http:www.propeciahelp.com, an Internet forum. A majority (89%) of subjects continued to meet the definition of sexual dysfunction defined by the score of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale ≥19 [1]. However, the correlation between finasteride and sexual dysfunction is not consistent with other relevant large-scale studies [3, 4]. Moreover, randomized controlled studies report the rates of erectile dysfunction to be between 0.8% and 15.8% [5].

It seems necessary to scrutinize the methodology of Irwig’s study [1]. Our comment is that the majority of the study data was based on a small cohort of registered patients on a webpage. Furthermore, no serum hormone levels, especially testosterone or dihydrotestosterone were measured. Additionally, it is difficult to calculate incidence of a side effect without knowing the population of all patients who used the prescribed drug. Before interpreting the results into daily practice or medical education, more consideration of these points is encouraged.

Conflict of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.