GP and surgeon, Dr Shane Charles (MBBS, MRCS, PgDip SEM) provides a simple explanation of the medication below:

'Finasteride is a medication that is used in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in men, and is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor which works by reducing levels of dihydrotestesterone. '.

If you think Finasteride is a treatment that can help you, start an online consultation now for a registered prescriber to review. If treatment is deemed suitable, they can prescribe it, and we can deliver it to you from the comfort of your own home with a range of convenient delivery and payment options for you to choose from. If you have any questions about a medication, you should always consult your doctor with any questions prior to starting treatment, to ensure that it is safe and suitable for you.

What is Finasteride?

Finasteride 1mg

Hair loss treatment, Finasteride, is the active ingredient in the branded popular treatments for hair loss, Proscar and Propecia (NHS, 2023). It is a medication used mainly to treat an enlarged prostate or hair loss in men. It can also be used to treat excessive hair growth in women and as a part of hormone replacement therapy for transgender women (Leinung et al, 2018). The oral tablet form is taken by mouth as directed by your doctor (WebMD, 2024).

The reduction of DHT in the scalp is so far the only known and proven way to stop hair loss. It is now used as the first line of attack for the hair loss treatment of male pattern baldness.

A Finasteride tablet is the generic form of branded Propecia tablet.

Video: A Guide to Propecia

UK Meds have created a video guide to explain what generic Propecia / finasteride is. Watch it below:

@uk.meds

What is Propecia? @uk.meds #MedsTok #propecia #finasteride #hairloss #malepatternbaldness #malepatternhairloss

♬ original sound - UK.Meds

How does finasteride work?

Testosterone is a hormone that gets converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and it is responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics when boys go through puberty (Healthline, 2019). Excess DHT has a negative effect on the growth of hair on the scalp, shrinking hair follicles to a point where they can no longer produce hair (Ntshinila et al, 2023). Finasteride solves this problem by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT (Anitha et al, 2009). Having less DHT in the body means that no more hair follicles will experience damage, which stops hair from falling (Medical News Today, 2024). It allows hair follicles to regenerate and start producing hair once again. Finasteride is able to slow and reverse hair loss in most men (Rossi et al, 2011).

Finasteride blocks an important enzyme, Type II 5α-reductase, which is involved in the regulation of the hair follicle (Kaufman & Dawber, 1999). A major cause of male pattern hair loss is the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (Ustuner, E.; 2013), so by blocking the enzyme, Finasteride prevents further hair loss. Not only that but it can actually reverse the balding process and encourage new hair to grow.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

Testosterone is a hormone that gets converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (Society for Endocrinology, 2021). DHT is responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics when boys go through puberty (Kinter et al, 2023).

What are the benefits of taking Finasteride?

Hair loss can cause psychological effects for men, causing them to become embarrassed and lacking in self confidence. Using Finasteride helps to to slow hair loss and increases hair growth as found by Leyden et al's (1997) study of 326 men with active mild to moderate hair loss (but not complete hair loss) / thinning hair in the frontal area; this helps men to live happier lives and feel more confident again.

How long does it take for Finasteride to work?

Finasteride typically starts working to slow hair loss on the scalp almost immediately but because hair growth is slow, it can take from 3-6 months before the effects of finasteride are noticed (NHS, 2023). When Finasteride begins working, men should notice they are experiencing less hair loss, and that some hairs begin to grow back. After 6-9 months is when most men notice the full effects of taking finasteride (Kaplan & Olsson, 1996).

For more information on the prescription hair loss treatment patients should refer to the Finasteride 1mg patient information leaflet.

Each male pattern baldness or BPH patient has a unique individual experience when taking a finasteride tablet as a treatment prescribed by their doctor.

Finasteride Reviews

There are a large selection of Finasteride reviews describing what people think about their experiences with the medication available at Drugs.com and Web MD.

It is important to note that people may have different experiences when they use Finasteride tablets. If someone states that their medication did not work as they had hoped, it does not mean that it will not work for you. If you believe that Finasteride is the right medication for you then the best thing to do is to consult your doctor or healthcare professional, and judge the medication based on your own experiences if they recommend it as a treatment. The importance of a product review or user reviews should not be understated. Reading reviews and patient experiences can provide you with important advice and information that you may not have known, and can inform you on whether or not to start using Finasteride. Before starting a medication you should always consult with your healthcare provider first to ensure that it is safe and suitable for your individual needs.

Check out some independent Finasteride user reviews and user experiences below:

How do I take finasteride?

Finasteride Tablets

Finasteride should be taken once daily (Pope, C.; 2023), preferably at the same time each day. You should swallow one whole tablet with a glass of water, with or without food. Do not crush finasteride (NHS, 2023). If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember provided that it has been less than 6 hours since you were due to take it; if you do not remember until after 6 hours have passed, do not take two doses together, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time (NHS, 2023). It is unlikely that missing the odd tablet will have a negative effect on the results.

How do I use Finasteride?

Finasteride 1mg tablets are a prescription-only medication (NHS, 2023). Always follow the advice of your doctor prior to starting any treatment and read the patient information leaflet provided in the medication packet.

Take the tablets by swallowing whole with a drink of water, with or without food (NHS, 2023). You should not divide, crush or chew the tablets as this may affect how well they work.

Typically, you should continue taking Finasteride 1mg daily, even if it takes 3 to 6 months before you start to notice any effects. Your doctor will be able to advise after this if the medication is working or not.

Video: How to use Finasteride

In the below video Dr O'Donovan (UK GMC number: 7436647) explains how a patient would typically take Finasteride tablets to treat male hair loss:

Please be aware that the video above is only for educational purposes and is not intended for use as a substitute for seeking professional medical advice from your own doctor or trusted healthcare professional.

Typically, Finasteride 1mg should be taken continuously for as long as you wish to see results which could be several months or years (NHS, 2023), but you should always consult your doctor or healthcare professional prior to starting treatment to ensure that the medication is safe and suitable for your individual needs and for appropriate advice in relation to how long the medication should be taken for in your individual case. Stopping finasteride will reverse the effect that it has had on your hair. Any new hair that has re-grown will fall off and you will continue to bald at the same rate as you did before treatment (Patel, R.; 2023).

What happens if you stop taking Finasteride?

Peak hair growth with Finasteride is usually achieved after 2 years, but you need to keep using it to maintain the results. If you stop taking Finasteride, you might lose the benefits within 6 months, and your hair could return to its original state within 9-12 months (NHS, 2023).

What should I do if I miss a dose of Finasteride?

If you miss a dose of Finasteride and it’s been less than 6 hours, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s been more than 6 hours, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time. Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed one. If you often forget doses, try setting an alarm to remind you. You can also ask your doctor for other tips to help you remember to take your medicine.

Can Finasteride be dangerous for pregnancy?

Finasteride can potentially harm a male foetus if a pregnant woman is exposed to it. If your partner is pregnant, you must use condoms, and she should not handle the tablets. Avoid using this treatment if you're trying to get your partner pregnant.

What common side effects can Finasteride have?

Finasteride can have adverse reactions. According to NHS (2023), common side effects of finasteride include:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Lower libido (less interest in sex)
• Ejaculation problems

Less common but more serious side effects can include:

• Swelling, pain or lumps in the chest area
• Discharge from the nipples (which could be a potential sign of male breast cancer)
• Feelings of depression and/or a low mood

You should always consult your doctor or healthcare profession prior to starting treatment and if you have any concerns about side effects as soon as possible.

UK Meds spoke with community pharmacist, Tracy Ho, to get answers to the common questions you’ve asked us about the hair loss treatment, Finasteride.

What are the non-medical alternative treatments to Finasteride?

There are some non-medical aesthetic solutions to hair loss, such as:

• Hair styling techniques: Dyeing your hair and using skin camouflage sprays and mousses.
• Hairpieces: Wigs and hair extensions can be used, but be cautious as they may pull on existing hair follicles.
• Surgical treatments: In more severe cases, hair transplantation is an option. However, maintaining a hair transplant usually requires ongoing use of Finasteride or Minoxidil.

Is Propecia (Finasteride) effective for hair regrowth?

How long should a man take finasteride before seeing results?

A man should take finasteride for up to one year continuously before knowing the long term results and whether Finasteride works for him. The response to finasteride after the first year is also a good indicator of how successful the long-term treatment will be. Not all men experience significant hair growth using a finasteride 1mg tablet (Nestor et al, 2021). In these cases, finasteride typically prevents further hair loss (McClellan & Markham, 1999).

Can Finasteride cause erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a reported side effect of Finasteride, according to NHS (2023) and Hirshburg et al (2016). Various research studies also demonstrate that there is potential for patients using finasteride to experience erectile dysfuntion (ED) along with other sexual health related issues such as a loss of libido (Mysore, V.; 2012; Irwig & Kolukula, 2011), though these side effects may not be long term experiences (Singh & Avram, 2014).

Can Finasteride cause weight loss?

Research suggests that low doses of Finasteride do not have a significant impact on body weight (McQueen & Amengual, 2020), therefore, it is difficult to state if there is a link between finasteride and weight loss or weight gain. A study by Song et al (2007) with 10,057 participants found that in contrast to experiencing weight loss, there are significant associations between prostate cancer outcomes and weight gain in men treated with Finasteride, suggesting that there are closely related individual-level factors that affect responses to both treatments, though this study is niche and more research is required to understand if there is a significant link between finasteride treatment and weight gain and / or weight loss in patients.

How long does Finasteride stay in your system?

According to Mysore, V. (2012), the plasma half life for finasteride is 6-8 hours and tissue binding is 4-5 days. Whilst Zito et al (2022) state that DHT levels return to normal within 14 days of discontinuing use of finasteride. Pereira & Coelho (2020) also state that after discontinuation of finasteride treatment some patients report adverse drug-related reactions for at least three months.

Can women take Finasteride?

No, Finasteride is generally not recommended for women, although in very rare cases it may be prescribed by specialist doctors (NHS, 2023).

Do you have to take Finasteride after hair transplant?

No. Finasteride will not affect how successful a hair transplant is so you do not need to take it following a hair transplant surgery (Wimpole Clinic, 2024).

Does Finasteride increase testosterone?

Roehrborn et al (2003) found that, yes, treatment with Finasteride led to moste increases in testosterone, with the biggest increases occuring in men who had lower baseline levels of testosterone to begin with.

Can a man take Finasteride while trying to conceive?

Although the risk is unlikely to be significant when trying to concieve, manufacturers of finasteride recommend the use of condoms during sex (Drugs.com, 2023). It is also worth noting that whilst it is not a common side effect, some men report test results that show they had poor sperm quality or were infertile when taking finasteride, although their sperm usually returns to normal after they stop taking finasteride (NHS, 2023).

Can Finasteride cause cancer?

GOV.UK (2009) note that an increased risk of breast cancer with finasteride cannot be excluded. This risk could also extend to an increased risk of prostate cancer as reported by Anitha et al (2009).

Does Finasteride affect beard growth?

Research into finasteride effects on beard growth are currently limited. A small study suggested that finasteride has no effect on facial hair growth but more research is needed for this to be conclusive (Inadomi, T.; 2014).

Does Finasteride make you pee more?

Yes. Finasteride can help to relieve the symptoms of benign prostate enlargement, allowing you to pee more easily (NHS, 2023; McConnell et al, 1998; Tackling et al, 2010).

Where can I buy Finasteride online?

Buy Finasteride for Hair Loss

You can safely purchase Finasteride 1mg online at UK Meds. You will first need to have an online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber before your order can be supplied. The online consultation will ensure that Finasteride 1mg is the right medication for your medical condition. If approved, you can choose your delivery option and get the medication delivered straight to your door.

Where can you get Propecia (branded hair loss prevention drug) or Finasteride (generic) online?

Finasteride UK

We have finasteride 1mg for sale, as well as branded Propecia tablets, here at UK Meds. We can ship this product to your home, with tracked delivery direct to your door.

Can I get Finasteride at Boots?

Finasteride Boots

At the time of writing, Finasteride is available at Boots. However, should you wish to purchase Finasteride at a much better price, you can do so at UK Meds. Additionally, if you would like to purchase more than one lot of Finasteride tablets, you can benefit from further savings at UK Meds. If you are interested in a repeat order for Finasteride 1mg you can also benefit from our Finasteride subscription purchase options.

Can I get Finasteride at Superdrug?

Superdrug Finasteride

At the time of writing, Finasteride is available at Superdrug. However, should you wish to purchase Finasteride 1 mg at a much better price, you can do so at UK Meds. Additionally, if you would like to purchase more than one lot of Finasteride tablets, you can benefit from further savings at UK Meds. If you are interested in a repeat order for Finasteride you can also benefit from our Finasteride subscription purchase options.

Can I get Finasteride on subscription?

Yes, you can get Finasteride 1mg on a subscription from UK Meds. By getting your medication on a subscription you can rest assured that you will get the delivery when you need it, whilst also saving money compared to alternative finasteride subscription services such as Numan finasteride, Lloyds finasteride, Sons UK finasteride and Hims finasteride.

Google Web Story: Finasteride Subscriptions Compared: UK Meds vs Lloyds vs Hims vs Sons UK vs Numan

We've put together a Google Web Story summarising the benefit of choosing a finasteride subscription from UK Meds over other competitors. Take a look at it below:

Is it legal to buy Finasteride online?

Yes, it is legal to purchase Finasteride online when shopping online with UK Meds. All of the medication we provide is 100% genuine and is dispensed by registered UK pharmacies. For prescription-only medications, you will need to complete our free online consultation form to ensure that Finasteride 1mg is right for you.

• NHS - Finasteride
• Mayo Clinic - Finasteride Oral Route
• BNF - Finasteride
• WebMD - Finasteride Oral
• Drugs.com - Finasteride
• Patient.info - Finasteride for Male Pattern Baldness
• Everyday Health - Propecia
• ScienceDirect - Finasteride
• Healthline - Finasteride Oral Tablet

• Does Finasteride work to treat male hair loss?
• What is Effective for Hair Regrowth?
• How long does it stay in your system?
• What is Avodart?