Finasteride (Generic Propecia®)

83% of men balding at the crown of the head saw no further hair loss with finasteride. The clinical results are in: Finasteride has been shown to be effective at preventing hair loss and even regrowing hair in some men.

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It takes about three to four months to start seeing results finasteride. The full effects can take around six months to appear. Note that initially, you may notice hair loss during the first couple of months. This is normal. Also, the medication is effective for as long as you take it but the results will be reversed if you stop using the medication.

It’s not always possible to reduce the side effects of finasteride. It’s important to take the medication exactly as directed (i.e. don’t take extra doses) and report any side effects you’re experiencing to your healthcare provider. Some side effects may be temporary and resolve with continued use of the medication. Also, your healthcare provider may be able to recommend adjustments to reduce the risk of side effects.

Finasteride and minoxidil are both used to treat male pattern baldness, but while finasteride is a medication taken by mouth, minoxidil is typically prescribed as a topical liquid or foam you apply to your scalp.

Research has shown that both medications are about equally effective at treating male pattern baldness and that they are more effective than either one alone when used together. Deciding which medication is right for you may be a function of whether you prefer using a topical medication or taking a medication orally, and whether you experience side effects when using either of the medications.

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Short answer is yes. The same study from above that summarized the findings of 3 studies that evaluated the effects of finasteride showed that some men in the finasteride group has hair regrowth. The authors noted, “Based on standardized clinical photography, the chances of mild to moderate visible regrowth are 61% on the vertex (with an additional 5% achieving great visible regrowth) after 2 years and 37% on the frontal area after 1 year.” In the 2 studies done on hair loss at the crown of the head, 72% of men had further hair loss after 2 years. For clarity, vertex is the crown of the head and frontal area is the frontal or receding hairline.

In the United States, finasteride, whether oral or topical, is not available without a prescription from a healthcare provider. Oral finasteride in the 1 mg and 5 mg doses are FDA-approved medications to treat male pattern hair loss and the symptoms of BPH, respectively. Topical finasteride is not FDA-approved and can be made by compounding pharmacies but still requires a prescription. There may be sellers who advertise finasteride online without a prescription, but these are not recommended as they may not be regulated for purity of ingredients, efficacy, or safety.

• Take finasteride exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
• You may take finasteride with or without food.
• If you forget to take finasteride, do not take an extra tablet. Just take the next tablet as usual.
• Finasteride will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day.

Finasteride is a medication that interacts with certain male hormones that play a role in hair loss. It’s used at the 1 mg dose to treat male pattern baldness, as well as at higher doses to treat other conditions. Research has shown that finasteride prevented further hair loss in 83% of men who took it for 2 years and 66% of men had some hair regrowth.