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finasteride

Treatment options for Hair Loss

Buy finasteride safely, securely and easily in a few simple steps. Start a consultation today to check your eligibility with a prescribing clinician, at no cost to you.

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This content is intended for UK audiences only

finasteride
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Manufactured by various MHRA-approved generic manufacturers
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Dispensed in the UK
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Delivered securely by Royal Mail
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Report suspected side effects or adverse reactions to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) using the Yellow Card Reporting system that covers medicines, vaccines, e-cigarettes and medical device incidents.

Learn more about reporting side effects

Other known brand names

Propecia, Proscar

About finasteride

Finasteride is used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) caused by an enlarged prostate and male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia).

Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, an enzyme involved in the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can cause hair follicles to shrink and stop producing hair.

NowPatient offers Propecia or finasteride tablets as a treatment for hair loss only, following an online consultation with a prescribing clinician.

Key facts of finasteride

  • Finasteride is a hair loss treatment that prevents further hair loss
  • Finasteride can take 3 to 6 months to have an effect
  • Finasteride has some common side effects which includes a reduced libido
  • It can be dangerous if you take finasteride with certain medications. If you’re not sure if it is safe, discuss this with the prescribing clinician
  • Finasteride does not work for a receding hairline

Who is finasteride not suitable for?

Finasteride may not be suitable for some people. To make sure it’s safe for you, speak to the prescribing clinician before taking finasteride if you:

  • Are allergic to finasteride
  • Are a woman
  • Are taking finasteride or dutasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Are having a blood test for prostate cancer called PSA (prostate-specific antigen)

How and where to get finasteride?

You can buy finasteride safely and securely from NowPatient. You can start a consultation today for free and if you qualify for treatment, you only pay for the cost of the medication. Delivery is made to your home or office from our registered pharmacy.

Our service is certified, safe and effective, and we only ever treat conditions. If you book a consultation with a prescribing clinician for the treatment of hair loss, you can discuss if finasteride is a suitable treatment option for you.

At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is suitable for you. If it is, the clinician will issue you with a prescription which can then be ordered, paid for and delivered directly to your chosen address by NowPatient.

Dosage and strength for finasteride to treat hair loss

Finasteride is available as finasteride 1mg tablets when used for male pattern hair loss.

Information about how to take finasteride for hair loss

You should take one finasteride 1mg tablet each day at the same time each day, in the morning or evening. If you forget to take a dose of finasteride, skip the missed dose and take as normal from the next day. Do not take more than one finasteride tablet a day.

Read the patient information leaflet (PIL) provided with your medication or speak to a healthcare professional for further medical advice.

What happens if you take too much finasteride?

If you take more than prescribed, then it can lead to some unpleasant side effects. You should talk to your doctor or reach out to one of our prescribing clinicians, if you have taken too much finasteride and you experience any of the following side effects:

What are the side effects of finasteride?

In clinical trials side effects of finasteride include:

  • Sexual side effects – decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, decreased volume of ejaculate
  • Depression
  • Testicular pain
  • Breast tenderness and enlargement
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Skin rash

If you experience any serious side effects, you should contact NHS 111.

If you experience a serious allergic reaction with the signs shown below you should contact emergency services on 999.

  • Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
  • You’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
  • Your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
  • Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
  • You suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
  • Someone faints and cannot be woken up

Always report adverse effects to the MHRA yellow card reporting system. You can read more about this here How and where do I report side effects of my medication? – NowPatient

Information about taking finasteride at the same time as other medications or herbal supplements

There is not enough evidence to suggest there are any drug interactions between herbal supplements and finasteride. In any event, you should let your prescribing clinician know if you are taking any herbal supplements.

Can finasteride taken for hair loss be taken long term?

Men using finasteride will normally see improved hair growth after 3 months of use, with gradual improvement for 2 years. After 5 years of use, users will have, at least, the same amount of hair to when they started treatment. The effects of finasteride will begin to wear off after around 6 months of not using it. After 9 to 12 months, the benefits of using finasteride will have completely disappeared, with hair loss being the same as it was before treatment was started.

Is there a herbal finasteride?

No. Herbal finasteride does not exist. If you have been marketed such a formulation, it may be fake.

Can women use finasteride?

Finasteride is not recommended for use in women.

Should I avoid any particular food or drink when taking finasteride?

You can eat and drink normally when taking finasteride tablets.

What lifestyle changes can I make to help me with hair loss?

You may modify your lifestyle in a number of ways, and this may have a positive impact on your hair loss:

  • Eat food containing zinc and iron
  • Avoid shampoos with harsh chemicals
  • Wear a hat when outdoors
  • Take biotin supplements

Alternatives to finasteride

Alternatives for the treatment of male hair loss include Regaine (minoxidil), or hair loss shampoos, conditioners and supplements.

Sources

Medical Disclaimer

NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.

The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.

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