5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitors And The Risk Of Suicide And Depression

Lawson Health Research Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: BPH; Depression; Suicide

Treatments: Drug: 5ARI

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02876757

2016 0906 192 000

Details and patient eligibility

About

In December 2015, Health Canada issued a warning about a potential relationship between suicide and finasteride use and called for further research. No population based studies have assessed the risk of suicide with finasteride use, and this risk is not currently part of the product monograph. Furthermore, the link between depression and finasteride has not been well studied in the older population who are the primary users of this medication.

Enrollment: 186,394 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 66 to 120 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All men >66 years of age in Ontario between 2003-2013

Exclusion criteria

• Non Ontario residents
• No prescriptions filled in prior 180 days
• Prior exposure to finasteride/dutasteride in the 2 years prior to study enrollment.
• Prescription initiated during hospital admission or ER visit.

Trial design

186,394 participants in 2 patient groups

5ARI Users

Treatment:

Drug: 5ARI

Non 5ARI users