Kate Leinbaugh

Mark stopped taking the drug. But the symptoms didn't go away. They only got worse.

Mark's doctor said she believes the symptoms that he reported to her were caused by the hair loss drug. HIMSS declined to comment on Mark's care. Many of Mark's symptoms weren't identified as potential side effects during Finasteride's clinical trials and aren't listed on the drug's label.

Mark's doctor said she believes the symptoms that he reported to her were caused by the hair loss drug. HIMSS declined to comment on Mark's care. Many of Mark's symptoms weren't identified as potential side effects during Finasteride's clinical trials and aren't listed on the drug's label.

Mark's doctor said she believes the symptoms that he reported to her were caused by the hair loss drug. HIMSS declined to comment on Mark's care. Many of Mark's symptoms weren't identified as potential side effects during Finasteride's clinical trials and aren't listed on the drug's label.

My colleague Rolf spoke to an endocrinologist who said the clinical trials had flaws that might have underestimated the incidence and severity of side effects, and that they didn't follow its subjects long enough. Merck, the company that developed finasteride, referred questions about the trials to Organon, a company it spun off.

My colleague Rolf spoke to an endocrinologist who said the clinical trials had flaws that might have underestimated the incidence and severity of side effects, and that they didn't follow its subjects long enough. Merck, the company that developed finasteride, referred questions about the trials to Organon, a company it spun off.

My colleague Rolf spoke to an endocrinologist who said the clinical trials had flaws that might have underestimated the incidence and severity of side effects, and that they didn't follow its subjects long enough. Merck, the company that developed finasteride, referred questions about the trials to Organon, a company it spun off.

Organon said it didn't run the trials and stood by the drug's safety and efficacy. Regulators have revisited finasteride side effects in the past. In 2011 and 2012, the FDA revised the drug's label to highlight sexual side effects. In 2022, the agency updated the drug's label to include the risks of, quote, suicidal ideation and behavior.

Organon said it didn't run the trials and stood by the drug's safety and efficacy. Regulators have revisited finasteride side effects in the past. In 2011 and 2012, the FDA revised the drug's label to highlight sexual side effects. In 2022, the agency updated the drug's label to include the risks of, quote, suicidal ideation and behavior.

Organon said it didn't run the trials and stood by the drug's safety and efficacy. Regulators have revisited finasteride side effects in the past. In 2011 and 2012, the FDA revised the drug's label to highlight sexual side effects. In 2022, the agency updated the drug's label to include the risks of, quote, suicidal ideation and behavior.

The side effects that HIMSS and other telehealth companies list on their websites are based on what's on the drug's label. Most men tolerate finasteride well. The drug's label currently says 3.8% of patients experienced one or more sexual side effects during the clinical trial. The risk of experiencing one of the main sexual side effects was under 2%.

The side effects that HIMSS and other telehealth companies list on their websites are based on what's on the drug's label. Most men tolerate finasteride well. The drug's label currently says 3.8% of patients experienced one or more sexual side effects during the clinical trial. The risk of experiencing one of the main sexual side effects was under 2%.

The side effects that HIMSS and other telehealth companies list on their websites are based on what's on the drug's label. Most men tolerate finasteride well. The drug's label currently says 3.8% of patients experienced one or more sexual side effects during the clinical trial. The risk of experiencing one of the main sexual side effects was under 2%.

That's Rolf again. That less than 2% risk is the stat that HIMSS shows potential customers when they sign up online. Rolf also noticed that HIMSS was citing a statistic in its list of side effects he'd never seen before.

That's Rolf again. That less than 2% risk is the stat that HIMSS shows potential customers when they sign up online. Rolf also noticed that HIMSS was citing a statistic in its list of side effects he'd never seen before.

That's Rolf again. That less than 2% risk is the stat that HIMSS shows potential customers when they sign up online. Rolf also noticed that HIMSS was citing a statistic in its list of side effects he'd never seen before.

A HIMSS spokeswoman said HIMSS communicates transparently with patients about all essential details and safety information. And customers can ask clinicians about side effects. She said customers go through a, quote, comprehensive intake that is reviewed by a licensed provider who makes a clinical determination about the patient's eligibility for medication.

A HIMSS spokeswoman said HIMSS communicates transparently with patients about all essential details and safety information. And customers can ask clinicians about side effects. She said customers go through a, quote, comprehensive intake that is reviewed by a licensed provider who makes a clinical determination about the patient's eligibility for medication.

A HIMSS spokeswoman said HIMSS communicates transparently with patients about all essential details and safety information. And customers can ask clinicians about side effects. She said customers go through a, quote, comprehensive intake that is reviewed by a licensed provider who makes a clinical determination about the patient's eligibility for medication.

The HIMSS spokeswoman said its systems help clinicians make decisions quickly by flagging if a patient's case is routine or more complex. As convenient as the process was, Mark wishes there'd been a little more friction when he signed up with HIMSS.