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It’s common for most guys to experience male pattern baldness at some point in their lives. Studies show that approximately 85% of men will be affected by male pattern baldness by the time they turn 50. However, there are ways to slow down or prevent the effects of hair loss, so that you can enjoy a full head of hair well into later years.
One of the most popular hair loss treatment methods comes in the form of a once-a-day pill known as finasteride. It is the only DHT-blocking medication that’s been approved by the FDA to treat male pattern baldness, and has helped countless men in the fight against baldness. Let’s look at what the average guy can expect after taking finasteride.
1. Finasteride helps prevent you from going bald
When finasteride was first investigated as a viable solution to male pattern baldness, researchers noticed two things: approximately 83% of the men who took it in clinical trials stopped losing hair as a result of taking the drug and more than 66% of men actually grew hair back after two years of taking it regularly. Since then, finasteride has been successfully used as a treatment program for men who’re unhappy with their hair loss. When researchers tested different treatment methods for male pattern baldness, they found that finasteride was incredibly effective at stopping male pattern baldness in its tracks. Men who took it for a 48-week period were observed to have experienced hair regrowth at a rate of 16 hairs per square centimeter.
2. Finasteride stops baldness at its source
It works by stopping testosterone from being converted into dihydrotestosterone, a male androgen that’s been linked to balding. This means that for a lot of men, finasteride is able to effectively prevent male pattern baldness by reducing the amount of DHT present in the scalp. Medical researchers noted that a daily dose of 1 mg finasteride is enough to reduce the amount of DHT in the scalp by more than 60%.
3. For best results, finasteride requires commitment
The most important thing to remember when taking finasteride is that you’re not taking a magic baldness-erasing pill. While finasteride is designed to disrupt DHT and stimulate hair growth, you need to continue taking it to fully benefit from its effects. Studies show that people who discontinued their finasteride treatment lost all of the hair they regrew over a period of six to nine months.
4. Finasteride is one of the most effective ways to combat hair loss
When it comes to haircare, finasteride is one of the most effective treatments against male pattern baldness. In one study, finasteride’s effectiveness was compared to 5% minoxidil. Researchers found that 80% of the men who took finasteride benefitted from dense hair regrowth, while only 52% of the men applying minoxidil enjoyed similar results. Furthermore, in the same study, doctors noted that men who combined finasteride and minoxidil experienced even better results than individuals who used one treatment plan on its own.
5. Finasteride is incredibly successful, but there are some side effects
The truth is that finasteride is very good at preventing male pattern baldness, but a small number of men who use it as part of their treatment program may experience various sexual side effects. In one study posted in JAMA Dermatology, roughly 5% of the men taking the medication experienced a decline in sperm count, raising the question whether finasteride causes temporary infertility. Additionally, 2% of the men who took finasteride in clinical trials experienced other sexual side effects, like a low libido and difficulty to maintain an erection.
If you’re one of the few people who experience side effects as a result of taking finasteride, make sure that you contact your physician for further instructions.
Talk to Your Doctor to Learn More
Have you been interested in starting a treatment program for male pattern baldness? Your doctor is able to help you along the way, so be sure to ask them about finasteride to see if it’s a good fit for you. One of the biggest advantages of taking finasteride opposed to other treatment programs is its convenience. Instead of having to make major changes to your daily routine, all you need to do is take a pill once a day in order to benefit from its effects. And you can even combine it with other hair loss treatments like minoxidil to come up with a stronger treatment plan against male pattern baldness.
This article was reviewed by Brendan Levy, MD.
Important Safety Information
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Finasteride is for use by MEN ONLY and should NOT be used by women or children.
Read this Patient Information before you start taking Finasteride and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What is Finasteride?
Finasteride is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia).
It is not known if Finasteride works for a receding hairline on either side of and above your forehead (temporal area).
Finasteride is not for use by women and children.
Who should not take Finasteride?
Do not take Finasteride if you:
- are pregnant or may become pregnant. Finasteride may harm your unborn baby.
- Finasteride tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the medicine during handling, as long as the tablets are not broken or crushed. Females who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not come in contact with broken or crushed Finasteride tablets.
- If a pregnant woman comes in contact with crushed or broken Finasteride tablets, wash the contact area right away with soap and water. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active ingredient in Finasteride, a healthcare provider should be consulted. If a woman who is pregnant with a male baby swallows or comes in contact with the medicine in Finasteride, the male baby may be born with sex organs that are not normal.
are allergic to any of the ingredients in Finasteride. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Finasteride.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Finasteride? Before taking Finasteride, tell your healthcare provider if you:
have any other medical conditions, including problems with your prostate or liver
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I take Finasteride?
- Take Finasteride exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
- You may take Finasteride with or without food.
If you forget to take Finasteride, do not take an extra tablet. Just take the next tablet as usual.
Finasteride will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day.
What are the possible side effects of Finasteride?
decrease in your blood Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. Finasteride can affect a blood test called PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) for the screening of prostate cancer. If you have a PSA test done you should tell your healthcare provider that you are taking Finasteride because Finasteride decreases PSA levels. Changes in PSA levels will need to be evaluated by your healthcare provider. Any increase in follow-up PSA levels from their lowest point may signal the presence of prostate cancer and should be evaluated, even if the test results are still within the normal range for men not taking Finasteride. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you have not been taking Finasteride as prescribed because this may affect the PSA test results. For more information, talk to your healthcare provider.
There may be an increased risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer in men taking finasteride at 5 times the dose of Finasteride.
The most common side effects of Finasteride include:
- decrease in sex drive
- trouble getting or keeping an erection
a decrease in the amount of semen
The following have been reported in general use with Finasteride:
- breast tenderness and enlargement. Tell your healthcare provider about any changes in your breasts such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge.
- depression;
- decrease in sex drive that continued after stopping the medication;
- allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives and swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, and face;
- problems with ejaculation that continued after stopping medication;
- testicular pain;
- difficulty in achieving an erection that continued after stopping the medication;
- male infertility and/or poor quality of semen.
in rare cases, male breast cancer.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of Finasteride. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA1088.
How should I store Finasteride?
- Store Finasteride at room temperature between 59˚F to 86˚F (15˚C to 30˚C).
Keep Finasteride in a closed container and keep Finasteride tablets dry (protect from moisture).
Keep Finasteride and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of Finasteride.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in this Patient Information. Do not use Finasteride for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Finasteride to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.