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Alendronate administration — GPhC CRA MCQ

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HardMusculoskeletal TherapeuticsAlendronate administrationGPhC CRA

A man taking finasteride 1 mg for androgenetic alopecia reports new depression and suicidal thoughts. He has no immediate plan for self-harm and asks whether he can continue until a routine review. Which medicine-specific advice is correct?

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Correct answer: D — Stop finasteride 1 mg and contact a healthcare professional as soon as possible

MHRA advises patients taking finasteride 1 mg for hair loss to stop it if depression or suicidal thoughts develop and to contact a healthcare professional as soon as possible. The medicine-specific advice for 5 mg finasteride used for benign prostatic enlargement is to consult the doctor promptly rather than the same automatic stop instruction. Dose reduction, waiting for sexual dysfunction or substituting dutasteride does not address the psychiatric signal; any immediate danger of serious self-harm also requires emergency help.

Reference: MHRA: finasteride and dutasteride updated psychiatric and sexual safety warnings. https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/finasteride-and-dutasteride-updated-safety-warnings-for-psychiatric-side-effects-and-sexual-dysfunction