A study published in 2020 scrutinized over 3,000 reports of side effects from taking finasteride, and found that 89% of those reported side effects were psychological. Patients taking finasteride had 4 times the risk of experiencing depression and anxiety, as well as an increased risk of reporting suicidal feelings.

Why would finasteride cause depression?

Abdulmaged Traish, a professor emeritus of urology at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that finasteride has a biological effect that disrupts the central nervous system in some young patients, which can have psychological effects like depression and suicide.

Does finasteride give you depression?

We have received reports of depression and, in rare cases, suicidal thoughts in men taking finasteride 1 mg (Propecia) for male pattern hair loss. Be aware that depression is also associated with finasteride 5 mg (Proscar).