There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.
The FDA Drug Labels for finasteride (PO) do not address this question.
From the Research
Finasteride and Pancreatitis
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that finasteride causes pancreatitis, as studies have shown no significant association between finasteride use and the risk of acute pancreatitis 1, 2.
- A study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that the adjusted odds ratio of acute pancreatitis decreased to 1.25 (95%CI 0.90,1.73) for subjects with ever use of finasteride, but no statistical significance was seen 1.
- Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology found that the crude odds ratio for having reimbursed prescriptions for finasteride was 0.8 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-2.6), and after adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratio was slightly decreased to 0.5 (95% confidence interval, 0.1-2.5) 2.
- A review of drug-induced pancreatitis listed 525 different drugs that can induce acute pancreatitis, but finasteride was not specifically mentioned as a high-risk drug 3.
- While finasteride has been associated with various health risks, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes, there is no direct evidence to suggest a link between finasteride and pancreatitis 4.
Mechanism of Action
- Finasteride works by inhibiting the production of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), which has been shown to play a role in the physiological function of various tissues, including the liver and pancreas 4.
- However, the exact mechanism by which finasteride may affect the pancreas is not well understood, and further research is needed to determine whether finasteride use is associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis.
Adverse Effects of Finasteride
- Finasteride has been associated with various adverse effects, including sexual dysfunction, depression, and anxiety 5.
- However, pancreatitis is not a commonly reported adverse effect of finasteride, and the available evidence suggests that finasteride is not a significant risk factor for pancreatitis 1, 2, 3.