Finasteride for male hair loss

Finasteride lowers the level of androgens, a class of hormone that affects hair loss.

Why It Is Used:

Finasteride was originally used to treat enlarged prostate glands (benign prostatic hyperplasia). In a much lower dose, it is now also used to treat inherited hair loss in men (androgenetic alopecia), the most common cause of hair loss.

Finasteride has not been proved effective in women and is not approved for women by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Women and children should not use finasteride.

How Well It Works:

Finasteride is recognized as a successful therapy for inherited hair loss for men. Research reports that it slows hair loss on the scalp and helps regrow hair. But bald spots may not be completely covered, and visible results may take from a few months to a year.

Side Effects:

Possible side effects in men include sexual problems, including difficulty getting an erection and reduced desire for sex.

Women who are or may become pregnant should not take or handle crushed or broken finasteride tablets because finasteride can cause birth defects.

What To Think About:

Finasteride is for men only. Women and children should not use it.

Women who are or may become pregnant should not take or handle crushed or broken tablets because finasteride can cause birth defects.

Finasteride must be taken daily. If you stop taking finasteride, any regrown hair will gradually be lost, and within 6 to 12 months your scalp will most likely appear the same as before treatment.

If you are having a prostate screening, tell your doctor you are taking finasteride because it may affect the results of your test.