Finasteride is a common medication used for treating hair loss in men. In an arena where there’s a lot of misinformation, preying on the insecurities of men with male pattern baldness, it’s easy to wonder ‘does Finasteride work?’ You may wonder if it’s yet another idea for male hair loss that is more hype than fact. At International Pharmacy, we bring you reputable facts.

Read on to discover that Finasteride does work and how.

Does Finasteride work?

First up, Finasteride is a generic medication used for treating male hair loss. It’s also used for enlarged prostate, but in a higher dose. Finasteride for male hair loss does work for most people.

Finasteride – for male hair loss – also comes under the brand name Propecia. These medications have the same active ingredients.

The vast majority of men who take Finasteride for hair loss find that it works.

Scientific proof for finasteride

The good news is that there isn’t just anecdotal evidence for Finasteride, as there is with many male hair loss products. Indeed, the science behind Finasteride stacks up which allows us to answer ‘does Finasteride work?’ with a confident ‘yes’.

Reassuringly, one study’s overview reveals:

“Results of phase III clinical studies in 1879 men have shown that oral finasteride 1 mg/day promotes hair growth and prevents further hair loss in a significant proportion of men with male pattern hair loss. Evidence suggests that the improvement in hair count reported after 1 year is maintained during 2 years’ treatment. In men with vertex hair loss, global photographs showed improvement in hair growth in 48% of finasteride recipients at 1 year and in 66% at 2 years compared with 7% of placebo recipients at each time point. Furthermore, hair counts in these men showed that 83% of finasteride versus 28% of placebo recipients had no further hair loss compared with baseline after 2 years.”

This is excellent confirmation that Finasteride works. Finasteride is a prescription medication, so you will need to have it prescribed by a doctor. The fact that even regrowth is possible in some cases with Finasteride is hugely reassuring for many men who have been concerned with male pattern baldness. In general, men who take Finasteride report that their hair is thicker and there is more of it. They widely report an improvement in appearance.

How quickly does Finasteride work?

The good news is that Finasteride works quite quickly. Obviously hair growth takes time, so it can be around 3 months before you start to see the benefit in more hair growth. Most men who take Finasteride do so for up to a year to get the best results. Further studies seem to show that that Finasteride can actually stop hair loss in the majority of men who take it for a year. Not everyone will

experience regrowth, but for many men it is reassuring to know that hair loss can be stopped in its tracks.

Is it permanent?

This isn’t to say it is permanent. Finasteride works by altering testosterone levels in the body. Once you stop taking it, these will revert to normal. As such, when you stop taking Finasteride, you will likely lose your hair again. The hair loss will resume a similar pattern to previously. Therefore, you need to keep taking Finasteride for as long as you want to stop hair loss for. You can generally take Finasteride safely for many years.

Does Finasteride always work for male hair loss?

Unfortunately no, Finasteride doesn’t work for everyone. However, as the research shows, it does work for most people. It is most likely to work for those men who are experiencing male pattern baldness. If your hair loss is caused by something else then Finasteride is unlikely to work and is not recommended.

Who can use Finasteride?

Not everyone can use Finasteride. It is not recommended for women and is only prescribed to men experiencing male pattern baldness. It is also prescribed in higher doses to men with an enlarged prostate. Finasteride is not suitable for other types of hair loss (alopecia) such as alopecia totalis.

Finasteride can be dangerous for women. It can cause birth defects in unborn babies. It can be absorbed through the skin so pregnant women and those likely to get pregnant in the near future should not handle this medication.

It’s also worth noting that male pattern baldness is considered to be a natural part of ageing. Some men are more prone to it than others and it tends to run in families. As such, Finasteride may become less effective the older you are.

It’s also worth noting that while most men can take Finasteride and find that it is beneficial, the results aren’t equal for everyone. It may work for one person but not another. You should see it working within 3-6 months, so if this isn’t the case it may be worth talking to your doctor for other ideas including topical treatments that are applied directly to the scalp.

Finasteride works best when you start treatment in the earliest days of your hair thinning and receding. It’s generally advised for men aged 18-41 years. By taking it earlier on, you are more likely able to stop the hair loss process (while you remain on the drug) and even encourage regrowth.

You will also need to consider if Finasteride is safe for you to take. It is not suitable for you if you are considered at high risk of prostate cancer or have had prostate cancer. It’s also not suitable for those who have liver disease.

Additionally, as with all medications, Finasteride brings some side effects. If you experience severe side effects, including allergic reactions, then Finasteride isn’t suitable for you. Mild side effects usually subside after a few weeks, but if these continue to prove troublesome then you may not be able to take Finasteride. These common side effects include decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and problems with ejaculation.

Where can I get Finasteride

Now you know that Finasteride does work for most men, you’ll want to know how to get it. As said, it is a prescription only medication. This means that it must be prescribed by a doctor. However, you can then buy Finasteride privately. Indeed, Finasteride is rarely provided through national health schemes as it is considered cosmetic. For example, the UK’s NHS does not prescribe Finasteride for male pattern hair loss.

Therefore, get your private prescription and then you can safely order your Finasteride through us as International Pharmacy. We ship internationally so if you’ve decided that Finasteride is the best course of action for your male pattern hair loss then we can help. We provide generic Finasteride and the branded version, Propecia.

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The information given here does not constitute medical advice. Our information is to help improve general understanding only. For personal medical advice, and for a prescription for Finasteride, you must consult your GP.