Finasteride

Finasteride is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of hair loss in men. Also sold under the brand name Propecia®, Finasteride belongs to a class of drugs known as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.

Finasteride is used to treat male pattern hair loss (gradual thinning of the hair on the scalp, leading to a receding hairline or balding on the top of the head in men.)

Male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, is the most common form of hair loss and it is typically an inherited condition. As the condition progresses the natural hair growth cycle weakens and your hair follicles shrink, causing your hair to become shorter and finer. The exact cause for this type of hair loss is unknown but it is related to the production of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Treatments that inhibit the production of DHT are sometimes effective in slowing, stopping or reversing hair loss due to androgenic alopecia.

Finasteride (1mg dose prescribed for hair loss) has been shown to be 85% effective with hair regrowth usually noticed after about 3-4 months of daily use. The medication needs to be taken on a continuous basis or else new hair will be lost after one year of stopping the medication. (In comparison, topical Minoxidil 5% is effective in stimulating hair regrowth in about 50% of men who use it consistently.)

Finasteride works by preventing testosterone from breaking down into DHT, the hormone that is thought to contribute to baldness.

In the United States, finasteride is only available with a prescription. In order to get finasteride, you'll need to be evaluated by a doctor either online or in person so they can determine whether a finasteride prescription is appropriate for you.

In clincial trials of Finasteride 1mg, the following side effects were the most common side effects experienced by patients:

• Decreased libido (reported in 1.8% of patients taking Finasteride vs. 1.3% taking placebo)
• Erectile dysfunction (reported in 1.3% of patients taking Finasteride vs. 0.7% taking placebo)
• Ejaculation disorder (reported in 1.2% of patients taking Finasteride vs. 0.7% taking placebo)
• Decreased volume of ejaculate (reported in 0.8% of patients taking Finasteride vs. 0.4% taking placebo)

Studies indicate that usually these side effects resolve themselves after men stop taking Finasteride and even in most cases while Finasteride continues to be taken. However, about 1.4% of the patients who experience side effects continue to experience side effects even after stopping Finasteride. There may be an association of sexual dysfunction side effects and the use of NSAIDS (Motrin, Advil, Aleve type medications), which is why your doctor may recommend you stop taking Finasteride for the period of time when you take NSAIDS.