finasteride and minoxidil side effects

The Dark Side of Finasteride & Minoxidil — and the Natural Fixes That Fix your Flow but Won’t Wreck Your Mood

Let’s talk about something I find particularly scary — psychological side effects.

You get a rash from a med… you stop it. Diarrhea? You might power through it. But when an OTC supplement causes depression, aggression, or even suicidal thoughts? That’s not as easy to catch. There’s no red mark to point at.

Someone starts acting off — moody, short-tempered, withdrawn.They don’t think: “Could it be my shampoo?” They think their life just sucks. And after alienating friends, struggling at work, and burning relationships… it actually does.

To the Guys: Women Get This. Sort Of.

Every month, many of us wake up thinking our lives are a mess, everyone around us is unbearable, and our partners chew too loud. Then we glance at the calendar… and sigh. We know what's coming.

The mood swings, the tears — they feel real because they are. Not because our lives suddenly got worse, but because our hormones hijacked our reality.

Now imagine this: What if you didn’t have that calendar? What if you didn’t know it was hormonal? What if you just… felt like this was you now?

What If the Problem Is… Your Shampoo?

If you — or someone you love — is using topical minoxidil or taking finasteride (or dutasteride) for hair loss, that’s not a dramatic question.It’s a legitimate concern.

I saw it firsthand in someone I love. It was bad. Really bad. And I missed it — even after decades as a physician — because no one talks about finasteride and minoxidil side effects, especially the psychological ones. It wasn’t until I stumbled on a Reddit thread linking mood changes to minoxidil that the pieces clicked.

I begged them to stop the shampoo. One month later… I had my person back.

I was furious — at myself, at the system, at the fact that a product that could fundamentally shift someone’s mental health was sold freely online and in stores, with zero oversight.

Quick Biochem Backpedal

What is DHT?

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a potent form of testosterone. It’s the hormone that tells hair follicles to shrink and give up.

How Do Finasteride and Minoxidil Work?

They reduce DHT — protecting hair follicles.But DHT doesn’t just live on your scalp.It plays a role in brain chemistry, mood regulation, libido, and motivation.

Finasteride and Minoxidil Side Effects No One Talks About

Finasteride

• Blocks testosterone → DHT conversion

• Up to 5–10% report side effects like:

  • Brain fog

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Erectile dysfunction

  • Emotional blunting

That’s 1 in 10 men quietly losing themselves — and blaming everything but the pill.

And then there’s Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS):Long-lasting (sometimes permanent) sexual dysfunction, emotional numbness, and cognitive issues even after stopping the drug.

We’re talking about life-altering changes for a cosmetic result.

Minoxidil

Often assumed to act only on the scalp, but ~1% of users report severe mood disturbances —panic attacks, anxiety, anger, and emotional crashes.

You can buy it at Walmart. No warning labels.No oversight.No red flags until your life starts unraveling.

Reddit user: “Worst of them all are brain fog, forgetfulness, terrible anxiety, and anger like I’ve never had…”

Even if only 1 in 100 are affected, how many are underdiagnosed — or misdiagnosed?

How many people think they’re having a midlife crisis when it’s just their shampoo?

Natural DHT Blockers That Don’t Hijack Your Brain

One of the best-known: Saw Palmetto

A plant extract that gently reduces DHT production without wrecking your endocrine system.

Other helpful compounds:

• Pumpkin seed oil

• Green tea extract

• Ashwagandha

• Pygeum

• Marine collagen

• Zinc & selenium

My Two Favorite Natural Solutions for Hair Loss

1. Nutrafol Supplements

Not just a hair vitamin.

Nutrafol addresses the root causes of hair loss — hormones, inflammation, stress, and nutrient deficiencies.

• Nutrafol Men: Includes saw palmetto, ashwagandha, tocotrienols, marine collagen, and curcumin.

• Women’s Balance: Ideal for perimenopause or menopause. Helps balance hormones while supporting skin, energy, and resilience.

Most people see visible results in 3–6 months, without scary side effects.

2. 82s Shampoo

My favorite topical support. No minoxidil. No tingling. No foam.

Just:

• Saw palmetto

• Caffeine

• Biotin

• Clean botanicals

It detoxes the scalp, soothes inflammation, and helps keep follicles functioning — without frying your nervous system.

Want Faster Results? Pair It with Laser Light Therapy

At Creekside, we pair Nutrafol with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) — FDA-cleared laser caps that boost blood flow and follicle activity. Buy your Nutrafol from us, and you can use our cap up to 3x/week for just $10/week.

Private room. Lunch break. Nap time. Scroll zone. Just you and your laser hat.

Bonus: My Favorite Clinical-Grade Treatment — PRP

If you're ready to go beyond supplements and shampoo, let me say this clearly:I LOVE PRP for hair regrowth — and not just because it’s natural and needle-based (though, yeah, that’s my thing).

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy uses your own blood — spun down to isolate growth factors — and re-injected into your scalp to wake up dormant follicles and trigger regrowth. It’s science-backed, physician-administered, and results are often visible within just a few sessions.

It’s my go-to for:

• Early thinning

• Postpartum or menopausal hair loss

• When natural topicals need a boost

If you’ve been on finasteride or minoxidil and want to ditch the meds but still want results, PRP is what you are looking for!

Final Thoughts

Hair loss is hard — physically, emotionally, hormonally.

If finasteride or minoxidil works for you? Awesome. But if you’re not feeling like yourself — anxious, irritable, foggy, flat — it might not be your job, your partner, or your life. It might be your shampoo.

There are safer, effective options that support both your hair and your mental health. Let’s talk about them.

Schedule a consult

If you or someone you love is using minoxidil or finasteride — let’s chat.There are better paths forward, and I’ll help you find one.

Or just go ahead and grab Nutrafol — we’ll get your first LLLT treatment scheduled the same day.

Schedule your Laser Cap Session and Pick up your Nutrafol!

OR

Schedule a Hair Growth Consultation

What’s your experience?

Have you noticed mood shifts or mental changes with hair loss products?Let’s break the silence — share your story below.This is wildly underreported, and I want to hear from you.