Overview

• The inquest heard Sam Applegarth hanged himself in his Dubai apartment in September 2024, five weeks after relocating and starting a self-sourced dutasteride regimen
• Dutasteride is unlicensed for hair loss in the UK and approved only for enlarged prostate treatment, and the European Medicines Agency found no established link between dutasteride and suicidal ideation
• Dr. Bessam Farjo told Wakefield Coroner’s Court that suicidal thoughts among dutasteride users may be under-reported because such side effects are not routinely documented
• Applegarth had no history of mental health issues before August 2024 and had previously tried minoxidil, finasteride, a 2017 hair transplant and scalp micro-pigmentation to combat hair loss
• A post-mortem examination found no alcohol or drugs in his system, highlighting concerns that dutasteride’s potential mental health risks remain poorly monitored