What is Finasteride?
Finasteride is a tablet treatment for men experiencing hair loss, often known as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. It works by preventing a hormone conversion in the body that causes hair follicles to shrink. In a higher dose, Finasteride is also used to treat men with an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostate enlargement (BPH).
Finasteride can’t permanently cure hair loss, but it can sometimes halt its progression, significantly improve the appearance of hair, encourage hair growth, and slow down hair loss across all areas of the scalp.[2][3]
It works by stopping an enzyme from converting testosterone into another hormone known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT can make hair follicles shrink and thus cause hair loss. By inhibiting this enzyme, Finasteride can help regrow hair, and prevent further hair loss.
Because of the way it works, Finasteride is most effective when you start treatment early. It may not be able to reverse hair loss if it’s already advanced, so it’s best to take it as soon as you notice the first signs of thinning or receding hair.
Hair loss, or male pattern baldness, is usually easy to identify. You can start to lose hair from your scalp, the top of your head, or from the front of the head, which is widely known as a receding hairline. The most common cause of hair loss in men is male androgenetic alopecia (MAA).[4] This progressive condition damages hair follicles and causes hair thinning on the scalp.
How effective is Finasteride?
Finasteride works really well for treating male pattern hair loss. One study has shown that it stopped hair loss in 86% of men.[1] And in a separate study, nearly half of the men experienced hair regrowth in the first year of use, and around two-thirds saw regrowth by the second year.[2]
Additionally, in a 10 year study, 91.5% of 523 Japanese men saw improvements in their hair with finasteride, and 99.1% reported that finasteride helped prevent further hair loss.[5]
Moreover, Finasteride’s benefits are also sustained over time, with some patients continuing to see improvements after 5 to 10 years of use. Particularly men over 30 or those with more advanced hair loss may respond better in the long term.[1]
So studies show that Finasteride tablets can be an effective choice for treating male hair loss. But the results between each person can differ depending on a lot of factors, such as age, ethnicity, and your health.
Is 5mg Finasteride too much for hair loss?
Finasteride 5mg isn’t recommended for hair loss. Even though both the 1mg and the 5mg doses reduce DHT, the hormone responsible for hair thinning, the higher dose is mainly used for prostate issues and doesn’t improve results for hair. Plus, it also raises the risk of side effects like low libido or mood changes.
For hair loss, the approved and recommended dose of Finasteride is 1mg daily. This is generally safer and effective for most men, unless your doctor advises otherwise.
Is it safe to take Finasteride for life?
Finasteride has been studied for up to 10 years and is generally considered safe for long-term use.[4] However, there are some potential risks, including mood changes and low libido. Around 6% of patients in one study reported side effects,[1] and in very rare cases, side effects included serious reactions such as depression and suicidal thoughts.[5]
So, you should always follow your doctor’s advice on how to take Finasteride and for how long. If you notice any changes in your mood or anything that feels unusual, speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
Is it okay to take Finasteride a few times a week?
While taking Finasteride at least three times a week can still produce good results while potentially limiting side effects, it will likely be less effective than the recommended daily dose.
But consult your clinician before making any changes to your treatment. And if you’re concerned about side effects or anything else, ask them about alternative medications like minoxidil.
