The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has initiated an investigation into two medicines that are used, among other things, to treat hair loss, reports the Medical Products Agency in a press release.
The reason is that suicidal thoughts and self-harm are suspected to be possible side effects of the medicines. Psychiatric side effects, such as depression, have already been known risks for the medicines.
The medicines are also used to treat enlarged prostate, which can cause problems with urine flow.
Two of the medicines being investigated, Propecia and Proscar, are approved in several EU countries and contain finasterid and dutasterid. The substances inhibit an enzyme involved in the metabolism of the male sex hormone testosterone, reports Medical World.