Finasteride (Propecia) and depression

Has your mood dropped since you started or stopped finasteride (Propecia)? It has been linked to depression and suicidal thoughts. The UK leaflet lists both, and some men say their mood problems carried on after stopping, as part of post-finasteride syndrome (PFS).

If you’re struggling right now, the Samaritans are on 116 123, free, at any hour.

So what does the leaflet actually say, and can low mood outlast the tablets?

What does the Propecia leaflet say about depression?

The UK leaflet says “depressed mood, depression and, less frequently, suicidal thoughts have been reported” in men taking Propecia.

If that happens, it says to “stop taking Propecia and contact your doctor”. It describes depression as a “feeling of severe sadness and unworthiness”, and lists anxiety too.

The leaflet also says sexual problems can feed into low mood, including suicidal thoughts. Sexual problems have been reported without mood changes as well. So one can come without the other.

The warning is newer than many men realise. In 2024 the MHRA, the UK medicines regulator, reviewed finasteride. The review was prompted by an “apparent lack of awareness” of these side effects among doctors and patients.

It concluded: “There is a signal for finasteride, depression, and suicidal ideation.” Suicidal thoughts were added to the leaflet. The MHRA also told prescribers to ask about any history of depression or suicidal thoughts before prescribing, and announced a patient card for every pack.

Tim took finasteride for 17 years. He only connected his symptoms to it when that card turned up in his box. Our article on finasteride warnings shows what the card says.

Can depression last after stopping finasteride?

For some men it seems to. The UK leaflet says sexual problems can persist after stopping, for example “persistent difficulty having an erection after discontinuation of treatment”. It says nothing about lasting mood problems.

The MHRA says its evidence on whether mood and sexual side effects last after stopping is “mixed”.

The 2022 criteria for PFS include depression and suicidal thoughts as effects that can occur with or without sexual difficulties. For some people it has lasted years after stopping. Nobody knows yet who will be affected, or whether it will ease.

A small study of three men with PFS found changes in brain steroid levels, alongside depression symptoms, after they had stopped. Three men can’t prove a cause. It does suggest where researchers are looking.

How common is depression in men with PFS?

Common, in the men who have been studied. Dr Michael Irwig, a US hormone specialist, assessed former users whose sexual side effects had lasted after stopping. About 3 in 4 had signs of depression, against 1 in 10 men with hair loss who’d never taken it.

These men had come forward with problems, so the study can’t say how often this happens to everyone who takes finasteride. The authors called the findings preliminary.

In this extract from a 2012 film, Dr Irwig explains why he thinks doctors should talk about lasting side effects before prescribing. It’s background on the researcher, not on the depression figures.

Play video: Dr Michael Irwig on lasting side effects of finasteride (extract)

What can I do?

Finasteride helps many men keep their hair. If you have side effects, that’s a decision for you and your prescriber. If your mood drops or you have suicidal thoughts, the leaflet says to stop taking it and contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Write down your dates: “Finasteride 1 mg from May 2024. Low mood since about August 2025. Stopped in October 2025.” Many people say it took time to be taken seriously. Bring the leaflet line.

Report it: it helps everyone

A doctor’s note helps you. A report to the medicines regulator helps everyone else: it is how patterns get noticed.

• No proof needed. A suspicion is enough, even years after stopping.
• Where: the Yellow Card scheme in the UK, MedWatch in the US.
• Use the right words. If symptoms continued after stopping, write Post 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor syndrome (MedDRA 10082430).

Our reporting guide walks you through it

What else do people ask?

Does finasteride cause anxiety? The UK leaflet lists anxiety as a side effect, with how often unknown. Our article on finasteride and anxiety goes into it.

Should my GP ask about depression before prescribing? Yes. Since 2024 the MHRA has told prescribers to ask about any history of depression or suicidal thoughts first. If nobody asked you, you can still raise it now.

Is there more on finasteride and suicide? Our article on Propecia, depression and suicide covers it. If you’re having those thoughts, call the Samaritans on 116 123.

Tim found out from a card in a box after 17 years. If your mood has changed, tell your GP, report it, and read more about PFS.

Sources

1. Propecia 1 mg film-coated tablets, patient information leaflet, electronic medicines compendium (emc), last revised May 2026. Section 2: “Mood alterations such as depressed mood, depression and, less frequently, suicidal thoughts have been reported”. It then says to “stop taking Propecia and contact your doctor for further medical advice as soon as possible”. Impaired sexual function “may contribute to mood alterations, including suicidal thoughts”. It “has also been reported without mood alterations or suicidal thoughts”. A patient card comes in the pack. Section 4: “Depression (feeling of severe sadness and unworthiness)”; anxiety, frequency unknown; “persistent difficulty having an erection after discontinuation of treatment”.
2. MHRA, Safety review of finasteride: public assessment report, April 2024. Prompted by “the apparent lack of awareness among health care professionals and patients”. Conclusion: “There is a signal for finasteride, depression, and suicidal ideation.” It calls the evidence on lasting effects after stopping “mixed”. 231 UK Yellow Card reports of depressed mood or suicidal behaviour, 1993 to 5 January 2023; spontaneous reports cannot give a rate.
3. MHRA, Finasteride: reminder of the risk of psychiatric side effects and of sexual side effects (which may persist after discontinuation of treatment), Drug Safety Update, 29 April 2024. Advises asking about a history of depression or suicidal ideation before prescribing, and introduces a patient card in all finasteride packs.
4. Healy D, Bahrick A, Bak M and colleagues. Diagnostic criteria for enduring sexual dysfunction after treatment with antidepressants, finasteride and isotretinoin. Int J Risk Saf Med 2022;33(1):65-76. Section 5: cognitive impairment, depression and suicidality are additional finasteride effects that “can occur independently of any sexual difficulties”. Proposed criteria from expert agreement.
5. Irwig MS. Depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts among former users of finasteride with persistent sexual side effects. J Clin Psychiatry 2012. 61 former users against 29 men with hair loss who had never taken it. Depressive symptoms (BDI-II 14 or more) in 75% against 10%; suicidal thoughts in 44% against 3%. Self-selected group; the author calls the findings preliminary.
6. Melcangi RC and colleagues. Neuroactive steroid levels and psychiatric and andrological features in post-finasteride patients. J Sex Med 2013. Three men with PFS against five healthy controls: altered neuroactive steroid levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, “associated with depression symptoms”, after stopping.
7. PFS Foundation, interview with Dr Michael Irwig, 28 August 2012, embedded as an extract from the start to 1:45.
8. Tim’s interview with Moral Medicine, 23 March 2026: finasteride 5 mg from 2008 to 2025; connected his symptoms after the warning card appeared in his box. His story on our site.

Sources checked on 22 October 2026. AI-assisted writing and review, not clinical review.