Documenting GP and Specialist Responses to PFS
To help us document how doctors respond to Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS), please:
- Copy the Patient Request 1 into Word and replace all placeholders.
- Send the completed letter to your GP/consultant/health professional.
- Kindly ask them to answer the four questions in the document.
- When you receive a reply, remove your name, NHS number and any personal details.
- Email the anonymised reply to contact@sidefxhub.com.
Every response is valuable, including refusal or no reply. We will collate all anonymised responses and present them to MHRA and NICE to show the current lack of support and the risk to patients.
Patient Request 1
[GP Practice Name / Hospital]
[Department]
[Address]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Postcode]
[Email Address]
[Date]
Dear Dr [Surname],
I am writing to you as a patient who has taken finasteride and is experiencing ongoing symptoms that I believe may be related to Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS).As you are aware, I have reported the following symptoms, which have continued for [duration] since stopping the medication:
– [List key symptoms briefly, e.g., sexual dysfunction, emotional numbness, fatigue, cognitive issues]
Despite having ceased the medication as advised and having undertaken relevant tests (e.g., hormone panels, neurological assessments, etc.), which have largely returned within normal ranges, these symptoms persist and remain significantly disruptive to my quality of life.
The MHRA currently advises that patients experiencing such adverse effects should discontinue the medication and seek support from their healthcare provider. However, my experience—and that of many others suffering from Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS) or Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD)—suggests that this approach rarely leads to meaningful relief or resolution.
Accordingly, I would be grateful if you could provide written clarification of your current position regarding the following:
1. Are you aware of Post-Finasteride Syndrome?
2. Do you recognise PFS as a possible clinical consequence of finasteride use?
3. If so, what diagnostic or management options are available for affected patients?
4. If not, what evidence, guidance, or further information would you require in order to consider PFS as a working diagnosis?
Your answers will help me, and others in a similar situation, to understand what support is or is not currently available from healthcare professionals.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
[Patient name]
Patient Request 2
[GP Practice Name / Hospital]
[Department]
[Address]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Postcode]
[Email Address]
[Date]
Dear Dr [Surname],
I wrote to you on [date] regarding my concerns about possible Post-Finasteride Syndrome and asked for your view on the condition. I completely understand how busy you are, but I would be grateful if you could provide a short reply to the questions raised.
Even a brief response would be very helpful to me in understanding your position and in knowing what support may or may not be available.
Thank you again for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
[Patient name]
Follow-up Letter to Practice Manager
[GP Practice Name / Hospital]
[Department]
[Address]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Postcode]
[Email Address]
[Date]
Dear [Practice Manager / Dr Surname],
Re: Request for Written Clinical Position on Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS) / Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD)
I am writing to follow up on my previous correspondence with Dr [Surname], dated [insert date], in which I respectfully requested written clarification of their clinical view regarding the ongoing symptoms I have experienced following discontinuation of [Finasteride / SSRI].
As explained, I continue to experience significant and persistent symptoms including [list symptoms briefly], which are impacting my quality of life. These symptoms have persisted for [insert time] despite cessation of the medication and normal test results.
The MHRA currently advises patients in such situations to seek advice from their healthcare provider. In line with that guidance, I have attempted to engage constructively with Dr [Surname] to clarify their view on the potential link between my symptoms and the prior medication, and whether any recognised diagnostic or treatment pathways exist.
To date, I have not received a response. I now kindly request, either through the doctor or the practice manager, a written response to the following questions:
1. Does the doctor believe my current symptoms may be consistent with Post-Finasteride Syndrome or Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction?
2. Are there any NHS-recognised diagnostic criteria or treatment protocols available for patients reporting such symptoms?
3. Is any further clinical support or referral available to me at this time?
This letter is not intended as a complaint, but rather a formal reiteration of a legitimate and important patient concern. I am seeking clarity to better understand my health and to contribute to wider patient-led efforts to inform policy and improve support.
I would be grateful for a response within 14 days.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Formal Complaint to Practice Manager
[GP Practice Name / Hospital]
[Department]
[Address]
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Postcode]
[Email Address]
[Date]
Dear Sir or Madam,
Formal Complaint: Lack of Engagement with Post-Drug Syndrome Symptoms (PFS/PSSD)
I am writing to formally complain about the lack of clinical engagement I have received in response to my ongoing and distressing symptoms following the cessation of [Finasteride / SSRI].
I have followed the MHRA’s advice to cease the medication and to seek support from my GP. Despite this, I have not received a written response or any acknowledgment regarding the potential link between my symptoms and the prior medication, nor have I been offered any further investigation, management, or referral.
This is especially concerning in light of increasing evidence and patient testimony surrounding Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS) and Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD). The symptoms in question are persistent and debilitating, yet they continue to be unacknowledged.
I respectfully request that this complaint be investigated and that I receive:
1. A written statement from my GP or the practice regarding their current clinical position on PFS and/or PSSD.
2. An explanation of why this request has not been met previously.
3. Clarification of what options, if any, are available to support me within the NHS.
If this matter is not resolved, I may escalate the complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Thank you for your attention to this serious concern.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]