A powerful treatment with hair loss that is advertised by influencers on TIKTOK can cause erectile dysfunction and even suicide thoughts, experts have warned.
Videos of young men proudly show off their regrowth after taking the daily tablet Dutasteride have collected millions of views on the social media site.
Although Dutasteride does not have a permit in the UK for the treatment of hair loss it has been developed to treat enlarged prostates the off-label, which means that doctors can give it to any patient who, according to them, can benefit.
But EU health officials have recently given a warning that the drug could cause serious mental health problems, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
Earlier this month, a study heard that a 31-year-old PE teacher had committed suicide after starting a Dutasteride course that he had bought through an online pharmacy.
Sam Applegarth, from West Yorkshire, had struggled with premature hair loss since the age of 22 and he had tried other medicines without any side effects.
Applegarth moved to Dubai last year and friends said he seemed to enjoy life. His doctor and family told the research that he had no history of mental disorders or self -harm and was a ‘clear and happy individual’. A post-mortem investigation after his death on September 19 found no alcohol or illegal drugs in his system.
Sam Applegarth, from West Yorkshire, had struggled with premature hair loss since the age of 22 and he had tried some drugs without side effects
Experts now urge the British medicine watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), to give warnings about the serious potential disadvantages of Dutasteride.
“Dutasteride is a powerful medicine that in some cases can lead to unpleasant side effects,” says Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical expert at King’s College London. ‘Patients who start taking it must know what caring symptoms to pay attention to. If they start to experience depression, they must immediately see a doctor.
“Hopefully the MHRA will soon overtake their EU opposite hits and ensure that the medicine comes with this warning.”
Dutasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – a hormone that is believed to shrink the hair loss caused by the scalp follicles.
But experts warn that suppressing DHT can also cause a series of debilitating side effects.
Dutasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – a hormone that is believed to shrink hair loss caused by scalp flicks
The drug is chemically comparable to Finasteride, one of the most used hair loss treatments, previously taken by millions of men-under the US President Donald Trump.
In 2024 the MHRA gave a warning about it, stating that depression, low libido, erectile dysfunction and suicidal thoughts could cause. Although studies suggest that about 4 percent of patients are experiencing these side effects temporarily, a small part – about one in 1,000 – current problems, even reports, even after stopping it.
This condition, known as post-finasteride syndrome, can continue to exist for months or even years. However, Dutasteride is considerably more powerful.
While Finasteride lowers the DHT levels by approximately 70 to 75 percent, Dutasteride oppresses more than 90 percent. This means that on average it leads to more regrowth of hair, but has expressed further concerns about the risk of permanent side effects.
A number of young men went to social media to show off the impressive results of taking Dutasteride.
In one video, British influencer Tom Gillbanks, who has more than 50,000 followers on TIKTOK, told how after four months he started spraying a lot of fat hairs on Dutasteride from areas that I never thought I would get her back. “
However, some studies have shown that no less than 16 percent of patients who take Dutasteride experience sexual side effects.
However, it was established that it does not seem to lead to side effects that continue after the treatment has stopped.
Experts say that, although not -permit for hair loss, Dutasteride is already widely used in the UK.
Sam’s general practitioner and family told the research that he had no history of mental disorders or self -harm and a ‘clear and happy individual’
“Hair specialists often use Dutasteride,” says Dr. Leila Asfour, a London dermatologist and chairman of the British Hair and Nails Society. “For most patients it is a safe and effective medicine, but doctors must ensure that patients are aware of the possible side effects.”
To limit the risk of complications, only certain patients must be offered dutasteride.
“If the patient has a history of mental disorders, they should not take Dutasteride,” Dr. Aspour.
Speaking in the investigation into the death of Mr. Applegarth, hair loss expert Dr. warned. Bessam Farjo, that it was ‘not difficult to get medication online’.
He added that numerous online pharmacies now ‘sprout’ to prescribe the medicine to patients without seeing them.
Dr. Asfour agrees and says: ‘These online pharmacies do not necessarily check the patient’s medical history before he prescribes dutasteride. And they do not always ensure that patients are aware of the side effects to pay attention. ‘
Dr. Stephanie Millican, the deputy director of the MHRA of Benefit Risk Evaluation, says: ‘We have followed this assessment of medicines with Finasteride and Dutasteride and are now taking the time to revise the findings published last month.
“All possible updates of the product information for these medicines would immediately be communicated to patients and healthcare providers and appropriate steps that are taken to reduce any identified risk.”
- For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit samaritans.org.
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