Finasteride is one of the most popular and effective hair loss treatments on the market. How can you benefit, and what are the most common finasteride side effects? Let's explore.

Finasteride is the only FDA-approved oral medication for male pattern baldness. It’s also used to treat men with an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH).

For male hair loss, it's often sold under the brand name Propecia* and comes in a 1mg dose.

For BPH, it's usually prescribed as a 5mg dose and sold under the brand name Proscar. Generic versions of 1mg and 5mg finasteride are also available. Finasteride comes as tablets you take orally, though a topical version of finasteride for male hair loss is also available. It is only suitable for men. Women and children should not use it.

The benefits of finasteride for hair loss depend on the dosage and what you're using it to treat.

1mg (Propecia) Benefits – Male Pattern Baldness Treatment

Proven to Work: Clinical trials show that men treated with finasteride significantly increase hair growth compared to those taking a placebo. Noticeable hair growth can begin within three months of use, and 90% of men improve or maintain hair growth over five years.

Easy to Use: Finasteride is convenient; it comes as a single pill you take daily or a topical solution you apply to the scalp. Once prescribed, you can easily purchase finasteride from healthcare providers or online providers that deliver to your door.

Low Cost: The cost of a month's supply of finasteride (30 tablets) ranges from $20 and upwards. That means you can treat male pattern baldness with finasteride for less than $1 per day. 

Lowers Risk of Surgery: Taking 5mg finasteride for BPH can reduce a man's risk of needing prostate surgery.

Reduces Symptoms: Finasteride reduces urinary tract symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. Finasteride shrinks the prostate, making it easier to urinate. It also reduces the feeling of needing to urinate often.

Overall, finasteride is generally very safe to use, and it’s FDA-approved. Even if you accidentally take too much finasteride, it's unlikely to harm you.

Finasteride prevents the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone by blocking the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. This decreases levels of dihydrotestosterone and increases levels of testosterone in the body.

Men with pattern baldness have higher levels of dihydrotestosterone in their scalps than those with lots of hair. Finasteride (1mg) works by reducing dihydrotestosterone, preventing the development of hair loss. 

High levels of dihydrotestosterone are also a significant factor in men with an enlarged prostate. Finasteride (5mg) reduces levels of dihydrotestosterone in the prostate, which causes it to shrink.

Finasteride needs to be taken daily for male pattern baldness and BPH to sustain the benefits. You can take it with or without meals. Do not exceed the recommended dosage. It's best to take finasteride at the same time each day. If you forget to take it at the set time, you can take it up to 6 hours after.

If it has been more than 6 hours since you were due to take it, skip that dose and take one at the usual time the next day. Do not double the amount you take to make up for a missed dose.

For male pattern baldness, most users see benefits within six months. Most of the hair growth will occur within the first two years of finasteride treatment. It's unlikely you will see new hair growth after two years of treatment, but continued use of finasteride will maintain your hair gains.

Increased hair growth gained from taking finasteride occurs in areas of the scalp where hair is thinning but still present. For BPH, symptoms may begin to improve within as little as three weeks. But, as an enlarged prostate shrinks gradually, it usually takes between three and six months to see the full benefits.

What Happens If You Stop Using Finasteride?

The benefits gained from finasteride will disappear if you stop using it for a prolonged period. Any hair growth achieved from taking 1mg finasteride will reverse within 12 months of discontinued use. Your hair will regress to the state it would have been in if you had never used finasteride.

For BPH, any prostate shrinkage gained from taking 5mg finasteride will also reverse within 12 months if discontinued.

Side effects only affect a small percentage of men taking finasteride, but as with all drugs, they can occur, and it's essential to understand them.

Sexual side effects are rare and don’t usually result in finasteride discontinuation. Clinical trials showed that 1.8% of men experienced decreased libido during the first year of taking finasteride compared to 1.3% taking a placebo. 1.3% of men taking finasteride experienced erectile dysfunction, while 0.7% did when taking a placebo. These side effects are not permanent and usually disappear within a few weeks after stopping finasteride use.

Solutions: If sexual side effects occur, you can take a sublingual pill that contains an appropriate amount of testosterone and finasteride to improve libido. A blood test will determine how much testosterone is needed. Prescribed erectile dysfunction medicines like viagra can also help if needed.

Finasteride can cause decreases in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men by up to 50%. Blood tests that check PSA levels are used for prostate cancer screening, so you must tell your doctor beforehand if you are taking finasteride. Prostate cancer screening methods that check PSA levels are still suitable for men using finasteride, but the doctor will need to interpret the test results differently..

Solution: Talk to your doctor if you’re a candidate for prostate cancer screening.

Women should not handle finasteride while pregnant as it may cause congenital disabilities. Finasteride pills have a protective coating but can be absorbed through the skin if crushed or broken. 

It is safe for men to take finasteride if their partner is pregnant. Traces can be found in a man's semen if they take finasteride, but the amount is so small it's unlikely to cause a problem for the unborn baby. However, couples should discuss it with their healthcare provider and consider using a condom during sex.

For couples trying to conceive, it's generally safe for men to continue taking finasteride. Some reports show that men with low sperm quality saw improvements when they stopped taking finasteride. However, sperm production is not usually affected by finasteride in healthy men.

Other Side Effects and Risks of Finasteride

High-grade Prostate Cancer Risk: Taking finasteride causes a slight increase in the risk of getting high-grade prostate cancer.

Blood Donations: Men should not donate blood while using finasteride.

Psychological Issues: Do not take finasteride if you have severe depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Discuss it with a health professional first before you start.

Breast Tenderness: Talk to a doctor if you experience pain, lumps, swelling in your breasts, or nipple discharge.

Allergic Reactions: Serious allergic reactions are rare, but you should stop taking finasteride and seek medical help if you experience itching, swelling, rashes, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, or dizziness.

Is there an Alternative to Oral Finasteride?

For those who would like to avoid the side effects of oral finasteride (or prefer not to take pills), topical formulations are available. The most common topical treatment is minoxidil (generic Rogaine). With a prescription from a licensed provider, topical finasteride is also available.

However, if you’d like to learn more about the power of compounded topical treatments, click here to learn about Finasteride & Minoxidil Topical Plus+.

Finasteride is an FDA-approved drug that is proven effective in treating male pattern baldness and BPH symptoms in men with an enlarged prostate. Millions of men use finasteride globally, and it's generally safe to take it daily for long periods, such as multiple years or months.

Side effects exist, but the risks are generally low and do not usually result in drug discontinuation. As finasteride typically needs to be prescribed, you should always talk to a medical professional before beginning treatment. Remember that pregnant women and children should not handle finasteride.

How Do I Get a Finasteride Prescription for Hair Loss?

You can get a prescription for finasteride from a licensed physician either in person or online. Apollo makes it easy to get a prescription online and discreetly delivers medications to your door with free 2-day shipping.

Click here to answer a few questions and see if a finasteride prescription is right for you.

Finasteride is available to buy from the online pharmacy owned by Apollo Health Products. Benefits, risks, and solutions for this hair loss medicine.

Finasteride for Hair Loss: Benefits & Side Effects

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