Hair loss treatment Finasteride

While generally considered safe for treating hair loss, finasteride, like any medication, may cause occasional side effects.  

If you experience depressive episodes or suicidal thoughts while using finasteride for male pattern hair loss, it is advisable to stop using the product immediately. Notify a healthcare professional about your symptoms for appropriate guidance and assistance. 

Uncommon side effects may include:  

• reduced sex drive  

• erectile dysfunction (ED)  

• abnormal ejaculation 

• feelings of depression  

Rare side effects can include:  

• tender or swollen breasts and nipples 

• nipple discharge  

• breast or underarm lumps 

• testicular pain  

• blood in semen  

• anxiety 

• palpitations  

• bloating of the face, hands, and/or feet  

• altered liver enzymes  

• persistent reduced sex drive or ED post-treatment cessation 

• male infertility or semen-related issues  

Any changes in the chest wall, such as lumps, pain, or nipple discharge, should be promptly reported to a doctor, as they could signify serious issues, potentially including cancer.   

If you have swelling of your lips or tongue, breathing difficulties, rashes, or difficulty swallowing, call 999 straight away as you may be having a severe allergic reaction.   

Always read the patient information leaflet for finasteride before taking it. 

Studies indicate that around 40% of men express satisfaction with their hair changes after a year of finasteride use, with improvements in hair thickness, regrowth, and a more favourable hairline becoming more apparent. The satisfaction rate increases to 50% after 2 years and reaches 60% at the 5-year mark. If there is no improvement after a year, consultation with a doctor is recommended to explore alternative options and rule out other causes of hair loss. 

Finasteride and Regaine work differently to help with hair loss. Finasteride is said to be about 90% effective at stopping hair loss after 5 years, and Regaine has shown to be 60% effective in a 48-week study. Even though they work in their own ways, many people use them together to treat hair loss. This gives you a good chance of slowing down hair loss and getting new hair to grow. 

Finasteride is available in convenient, once-daily tablet form containing 1mg of the active ingredient, making it easy for individuals to access and incorporate into their daily routine. 

Clinical studies have shown that finasteride has been effective in either maintaining or improving hair levels over 5 years for 90% of men (compared to 75% visible hair loss on placebo). However, finasteride will not work for men with complete hair loss or for women.

Finasteride is used to treat male pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia) by increasing hair growth on the scalp and preventing further hair loss.

While the NHS have said it is generally safe to take finasteride for a long time, recent MHRA guidance has highlighted that possible side effects can include:

• Depression

• Urgent action for thoughts of self-harm

• Suicidal ideation

• Sexual dysfunction (which may contribute to mood disorders, though sexual dysfunction has also been reported without mood alterations)

Contact your healthcare provider if they experience sexual dysfunction, suicidal thoughts or depression.

Speak to your healthcare provider before starting finasteride to make sure it’s a suitable and safe treatment for you. You will be asked if you have a history of depression or suicidal ideation - you will be reviewed regularly for psychiatric and/or sexual side effects. It is important to read the patient information leaflet before starting treatment.

Finasteride can regrow hair if the follicles are still active.

There’s no evidence to suggest that finasteride lowers testosterone.

A study showed that taking 5mg of finasteride a day to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) led to a 15-25% increase in testosterone levels. However, this is five times the dose used to treat male pattern hair loss.

According to the patient information leaflet, it may take 3 to 6 months for the full effects of finasteride to develop.

Erectile dysfunction is listed as an uncommon possible side effect of finasteride. It may affect up to 1 in 100 people.

Finasteride 1mg is prescribed to men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) to help reduce hair loss and promote hair regrowth. 

The 1mg Finasteride tablet should be taken once at the same time daily for best results. It should be swallowed whole, without breaking or crushing the tablet.

Finasteride 1mg is the only dosage available for treating male pattern baldness. Propecia, the brand name for finasteride, is specifically used to address hair loss in men and also comes in a 1mg dose.

You should only take the dosage prescribed to you by your GP or clinician. Don’t stop the treatment unless they advise you to, as hair loss often resumes once the medication has stopped.

Finasteride results after 6 months

Finasteride results after 6 months are when you should start to see visible results from reduced hair fall. 

This could appear as if your hairline has stopped receding or hair has stopped falling from the crown area. 

You may also notice signs of hair regrowth, such as a growing hairline or hair that appears thicker and stronger. 

Finasteride results after 1 year

At the one-year mark, you should start to see noticeable results from finasteride, particularly in hair regrowth. 

This may include improved hair regrowth in areas like the hairline and crown. 

This improvement happens because finasteride helps extend the anagen (growth) phase of your hair cycle.

Because everyone's hair grows at different rates, you may not have noticed any regrowth but may have experienced a slower rate of shedding and thinning after 1 year.

Finasteride results after 2 years

Finasteride results after 2 years are when you should start to see an improvement in hair density.

This can result in less visible scalp and thicker, healthier-looking strands. 

Continuous use of finasteride is required to maintain hair regrowth.

It doesn’t matter whether you take your finasteride tablet in the morning, afternoon, or evening as long as you remember to take it at the same time every day.

If you forget to take your finasteride tablet within 6 hours of your usual time, it's okay to take it. If it is any longer than 6 hours, skip this dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

You must avoid taking more than your prescribed dosage. Setting an alarm can help you remember to take your dosage at the same time every day. 

Finasteride can be taken with or without food and should be swallowed whole without breaking or crushing the tablet.

Reading your patient information leaflet is the best way to learn how to correctly take your finasteride tablets.

Topical finasteride is not licensed in the UK for treating hair loss. We do not offer it through this service. Speak to a clinician if you have questions about unlicensed or off-label treatments.

Both topical and oral finasteride help by reducing the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that your body produces. 

High levels of DHT are known to contribute to hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia. By lowering DHT levels, finasteride can help to extend the growth phase of your hair cycle and stop the hair follicles from shrinking. This can lead to slower hair loss and visible hair regrowth.

Oral finasteride is released into your bloodstream in order to reduce DHT levels, whereas topical finasteride works locally to reduce DHT levels directly on the hair follicles.

No. Finasteride is not available on the NHS to treat male pattern baldness. It is only available by private prescription, which means you will have to pay the full cost of the treatment yourself. 

Find out the cost of a private finasteride prescription on this product page. 

Finasteride may also be prescribed for male pattern baldness as Propecia. This is the brand version of finasteride; therefore, it tends to cost more than the generic version.

Some people may be advised to use both treatments, but you should only do this if a clinician or pharmacist confirms it is suitable for you.

Many males with androgenetic alopecia use finasteride and minoxidil as a combination to treat the underlying cause of their hair loss and stimulate blood flow to affected areas. 

You should always carefully read the patient information leaflet for both medicines and if your doctor or GP has prescribed finasteride tablets, we recommend checking with them to ensure you're suitable to use finasteride and minoxidil in combination to treat your hair loss.