Recent reporting has highlighted that finasteride, the hair-loss medication Donald Trump was known to have taken for years, is no longer listed in his publicly released medical information.
The White House has not clarified whether President Trump has stopped taking it or whether it is simply not being disclosed. That is his private medical matter.
But the story has brought attention back to an important question for any man considering hair-loss medication:
Are the possible risks of finasteride worth the potential cosmetic benefit?
At International Hair Studio, we do not regard finasteride as a routine or harmless answer to hair loss.
Finasteride works by reducing DHT, a hormone involved in male-pattern hair loss. It can help some men retain hair. However, it can also affect libido, sexual performance, ejaculation and mood.
The UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, has strengthened its warnings on finasteride. These warnings cover depression, suicidal thoughts and sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction. The MHRA also states that sexual side effects may continue after the medication has been stopped in some cases.
The European Medicines Agency has separately confirmed suicidal thoughts as a recognised side effect of finasteride tablets. The frequency is unknown, but the risk is real enough for regulators to require clearer warnings.
This does not mean every man taking finasteride will have problems. Many do not.
However, hair loss is a cosmetic issue. Depression, loss of sexual function and reduced quality of life are not.
For that reason, we believe every client should be given clear, balanced information before considering long-term oral medication. A tablet should not be presented as an effortless solution simply because it is widely marketed online.
There are other ways to address hair loss, including non-surgical hair replacement, without asking a client to accept hormonal or psychological risks.
At International Hair Studio, our role is not to pressure clients towards any one route. It is to help them make an informed decision about what they are prepared to accept, and what they are not.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Anyone considering, taking or stopping prescribed medication should consult an appropriately qualified prescriber.
Sources
* UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Finasteride and Dutasteride: Updated Safety Warnings for Psychiatric Side Effects and Sexual Dysfunction, May 2026.
* European Medicines Agency, Measures to Minimise the Risk of Suicidal Thoughts with Finasteride and Dutasteride Medicines, May 2025.
* Reporting on the omission of finasteride from President Trump’s recent public medical disclosures, June 2026.
