Finasteride Product Information
Finasteride is a treatment for men over the age of 18 with male pattern hair loss, a common condition characterised by thinning scalp hair that can result in a receding hairline or balding at the top of the head. Its active substance, finasteride, forms part of the type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitors class of medications.
Finasteride is used in the treatment of hereditary hair loss in men. It has been approved for the treatment of hair loss since 1997. The patent for Propecia, the branded version of Finasteride, expired in late 2013 so generic versions are now in production.
A hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen that causes the hair to thin and a decrease in hair growth. Finasteride works to inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that normally converts testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), lowering the levels of DHT in the scalp. This helps to reverse the balding process and contributes to increasing hair growth and preventing further hair loss.
It is only effective for men with partial hair loss, not complete hair loss.
Finasteride may need to be taken for at least 3 months before the benefits of the treatment begin to show. Ideally, you should continue taking Finasteride for at least a year to confirm whether it is effective for you. If it has not been effective within 12 months, continuing with the treatment is unlikely to work. Like most hair loss treatments, if you stop taking the medicine it is likely that you will lose any hair that you have gained from the treatment within 12 months of stopping.
The 1mg dose of Finasteride counteracts the progression of male pattern baldness. Finasteride stops further hair loss and promotes hair regrowth for 90% of men who take it for 12 months or more, according to clinical trials. It is widely considered to be one of the only effective hair loss treatments on the market. In many cases of men using Finasteride to treat male pattern baldness, a significant number of them not only slowed the progression of the hair loss but also noticed a substantial increase in hair regrowth.
To see the full benefit of Finasteride’s effects may take a few months of treatment. It is important to keep using the medication or any hair gained from the treatment can disappear within the next 9-12 months.
You should swallow only one tablet with water daily, with or without food. Do not take a double dose to make up for one you might have forgotten and do not crush or chew the tablets.
Although Finasteride starts working immediately, it generally takes around three to six months to see the benefits of Finasteride. The medication will stimulate the hair follicles to start growing new strands of hair. This will cause an initial shedding of dead hairs followed by the growth of new strands in more volume.
Watch our patient care expert explain everything you need to know about Finasteride.
Finasteride FAQs
Propecia is a brand name and, like generic Finasteride, contains finasteride as its active ingredient. Both have the same amount of finasteride as all generic medications available in the UK must demonstrate equivalency and the same effects in the body. Generic medicines are medically equivalent and as equally effective as the original, but are usually significantly cheaper.
Finasteride is available online from pharmacies regulated by the MHRA and the GPhC. It is always best to check that an online pharmacy is operating within these guidelines to be sure that the medication you will receive is safe.
If you match these requirements then Finasteride may be effective for you:
- Male
- Between the ages of 18 and 65
- Suffering from hereditary hair loss (Androgenetic alopecia)
- Not taking any other medications that may interfere with Finasteride
No. Unfortunately, Finasteride is only proven to be effective on areas of the scalp that still show some signs of hair growth. It has not been clinically proven to be effective in areas where there is no hair growth at all.
In order to provide the best possible pricing, and in response to market fluctuations and the rising costs of goods, we’re now offering a new finasteride brand, Avianta. Avianta is medically identical to our other two available brands, Milpharm and Accord (Actavis). All three brands of finasteride have the same level of efficacy and are approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK.
Finasteride Overview
How do you take Finasteride?
Timely treatment is crucial to avoid losing as much hair as possible and you should therefore talk to you doctor about treatment options as soon as you begin to notice signs.
You should take Finasteride at the same time every day with a full glass of water. It is important that you take it regularly to see the long-term benefits, so it is a good idea to incorporate it into your daily routine. You can take it with or without food, as desired.
It is best to take it exactly as prescribed. You should talk to you doctor before taking larger doses of for a longer period than recommended.
Does Finasteride have side effects?
All medicines have the potential to cause side effects on the body, although not everybody experiences them.
- Some common side effects for Finasteride include:
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Decreased Sex Drive
If you decide to continue using Finasteride, these side effects may lessen after some time. If the symptoms are inhibiting and do not resolve, you can consider stopping the medication with your doctor.
Some people can also have an allergic reaction to this medication and the following symptoms are indicative of this:
- Skin rash and itching
- Swelling of lips, face, tongue or throat
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
If you experience these signs it is essential that you stop taking the medication and see your doctor immediately.
Information Leaflet
Always read the patient information leaflet before commencing treatment.
Written and reviewed by our qualified team