Hair loss and prostate problems are two of the bigger worries for men as they get older-but the standard drugs to treat them aren’t helping many of them, and the side-effects can be life-destroying, new research has discovered.
A quarter of men who are taking Proscar (finasteride) or Avodart (dutasteride) for benign prostate enlargement don’t get any benefit from the drugs, while those taking hair-loss drugs Propecia or Avodart can suffer from sexual dysfunction, insulin resistance, depression and cognitive problems.
Similar reactions have been seen with the two prostate drugs, which are part of the 5a-redictase inhibitor family of drugs. They’ve also been linked to a loss in libido and erectile dysfunction, say researchers from Boston University School of Medicine.
(Source: Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, 2015; doi: 10.1007/s11154-015-9319-y)
