Finasteride

What it is

Finasteride lowers DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles in men with androgenetic alopecia. It is the best-evidenced oral medicine for stopping further loss and regrowing hair at the crown.

Results take time — three to six months to see, a year to judge — and continue only while the medicine is taken.

FDA-approved uses

• Male pattern hair loss in men (1 mg)
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (5 mg)

Our doctors prescribe for approved uses. Any other use is a decision made only by your doctor, for you, after evaluation.

How it is taken

One tablet daily, with or without food, at the same time each day. Women who are or may become pregnant should not handle crushed or broken tablets.

What to expect

Hair shedding slows within months; regrowth is gradual. A small percentage of men report lower libido or erectile changes, which usually resolve on stopping.

Who should not take it

• Women and children
• Men planning to father a child who prefer to avoid any hormonal change
• Known liver disease without review

Questions we hear