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Men are being prescribed a hair loss drug, finasteride, with potentially dangerous side effects by online websites without proper safety checks. The drug can cause impotence and suicidal thoughts, but companies continue to send the pills to customers without face-to-face consultations or safety protocols. The BBC launched an investigation after hearing from men who had experienced negative side effects of the drug through their platform, “Your Voice, Your BBC News”.
One user, Kyle, says his life has been ruined since he started taking finasteride, which was recommended to him by a friend with no medical qualifications. Kyle bought the drug online, which he found very simple by typing the drug into a search engine. The prescription pills arrived within a week, with no consultation with a doctor, no video call and no requirement to send any photographs to confirm his diagnosis. Kyle has experienced sexual, mental and physical health problems since taking the medication, which have persisted after stopping the medication.
Finasteride is one of the most commonly-prescribed pills for hair loss. Tens of thousands of men in the UK use it, but it is not available on the NHS except by private prescription. The drug works by preventing testosterone from turning into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can halt hair growth. However, after being contacted by men like Kyle, the BBC asked a male colleague to buy finasteride through leading online providers to ascertain what safety checks were in place. Only Boots pharmacy requested a photograph of hair loss, while none of the packs contained the safety alert card that drug makers were previously asked to add.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has argued that online prescribing can be highly useful for patients who may be too embarrassed to visit a doctor, but warned that thorough checks are necessary. The British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery believes that patients should not receive the drug based on the online form alone. Europe’s drug regulator is currently carrying out a safety review of finasteride, which may lead to a ban
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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