Finasteride

Buy Finasteride 1mg Tablets Online

You can buy Finasteride 1mg tablets online from our UK registered online pharmacy and Doctor service. Finasteride 1mg tablets are an effective treatment for male pattern baldness in men.

After completing an online assessment form, our GPs can assess if the treatment is suitable for you. If approved, a prescription will be issued to our pharmacy team, who will dispense and dispatch your order.

What is Finasteride?

Finasteride is an effective drug used in the treatment of male pattern baldness. It is the generic version of the well-known hair loss treatment, Propecia. As Propecia lost its patent on manufacturing Finasteride in 2014, this allowed multiple manufacturers to produce the drug. This, in turn, lowered the prices of generic Propecia and has made it a much more affordable option for men who suffer from hair loss. Medically, there is no difference between Propecia and Finasteride as they contain exactly the same active ingredient.

Finasteride Summary

Finasteride Prices

How does Finasteride work?

Finasteride works by preventing testosterone from being converted to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which allows the hair follicles to regain their normal size. Studies have shown Finasteride 1mg can increase hair growth, and can also improve how people think their hair looks. In most cases, men will either regrow or no longer lose more hair.

It can take three to six months of treatment with Finasteride 1mg before hair regrowth is seen. The balding process usually resumes within six to 12 months if treatment is stopped. Side effects for Finasteride 1mg are uncommon. Less than one in 100 men who take Finasteride 1mg experience a loss in sexual appetite (libido) or erectile dysfunction.

Finasteride Results

While effectiveness varies from patient to patient, clinical studies have shown that after 5 years of use, 90% of men taking Finasteride will either have more hair, or the same amount of hair as they had at the start of treatment. In comparison, only 25% of men who did not take Finasteride had more or the same amount of hair. 

It will usually take at least 2 months for you to notice an effect from taking Finasteride. Hair regrowth can occur for up to 2 years after starting the medication.

We also have a collection of Finasteride reviews from real patients for you to look at so you can make an informed decision on whether to begin treatment.

Dosage

The dose of Finasteride for hair loss is one 1mg tablet daily. It can be taken with or without food. You should not cut the tablets to half dose Finasteride.

It may need to be taken daily for a number of months before results can be seen. If you forget to take a tablet, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time.

Some patients ask about using Finasteride 5mg tablets and cutting these tablets to achieve a 1mg dose. This is not recommended, as the quartering of tablets is imprecise with the size of the tablets, and the correct dosage cannot be guaranteed.

Effectiveness

The table below shows how Finasteride works compared to placebo. Placebo pills are used in clinical trials, where a certain group of patients are given "water pills". These contain no drug. 

This allows an accurate control group to assess the effectiveness of the drug in question. With Finasteride, we can see that after 60 weeks of use, 90% of Finasteride patients will have noticed hair regrowth or no further hair loss. This compares to just 23% of placebo patients. 

So in short, yes, Finasteride does work for most patients!

Finasteride vs Placebo Results

Warnings & Contraindications

Finasteride may not be suitable for all patients. Do not take this medication if you are;

• Allergic to finasteride, or any of the listed ingredients
• A woman (finasteride acts upon testosterone, meaning it will not work for women).
• Under the age of 18

Speak to your doctor before using this medication. In particular, take care if you are;

• Undergoing hormone treatments, such as gender transition (this medication acts upon testosterone, meaning it can affect your hormone levels)
• Being screened for prostate cancer/Prostate-Specific Antigen, or experiencing any benign prostate issues
• Experiencing fertility issues
• If your partner is pregnant or trying to conceive

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet for more information on these warnings.

Side Effects

Finasteride is a well-tolerated drug, and adverse effects are uncommon.

However, with any medication you take, there is always a risk of side effects occurring. Some are more common than others, and often side effects may subside with the regular usage of the medicine. If the side effects do not subside, you should report them to us, or your GP.

Of particular concern to some men are the possible sexual side effects of Finasteride. It has been reported that Finasteride can reduce sex drive in around 1.5% of men who take it.

Common Side Effects

• Decreased libido / Reduced sex drive
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Runny / Blocked Nose
• Drowsiness
• Sneezing

The side effects listed below are more serious, and you should stop taking Finasteride, and report these to your GP immediately.

• Chills or cold sweats
• Episodes of confusion
• Dizziness / Fainting
• Lumps in your breast area. There have been rare reports of breast cancer in men taking finasteride.
• Suicidal Thoughts

For a full list of side effects, please read the Patient Information Leaflet. If you suffer from an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients, stop taking the medication.

Alternatives to Finasteride

If you are concerned with the side effects of Finasteride, or simply want to try something else, Regaine Extra Strength is a topical treatment that has been shown to be successful in treating hair loss in men. While not as effective as Finasteride, it does provide an alternative for men wishing to try something else.

Regaine contains minoxidil 5% and is available as foam or lotion. It is applied twice daily to the scalp. When taking Finasteride or Regaine, you must continue to use them to prevent the reversal of their effects. Regaine and finasteride 1mg can be used together. Regaine is also often recommended to patients who have undergone hair transplant procedures to help improve the rate of growth of hair.

We also stock oral minoxidil, which uses the same active ingredient as Regaine, but in the form of a daily tablet.

Dutasteride is another treatment similar to finasteride, available for hair loss from our online doctor service.

Topical Finasteride

There is currently research being performed on a topical version of Finasteride. This is when instead of taking Finasteride by mouth, it is instead made in liquid form and applied directly to the scalp. Research is ongoing for this treatment, and the product is not currently licensed in the UK. Find out more about topical finasteride in 'Topical Finasteride vs Oral Finasteride'. Regaine is a topical product that is currently licensed in the UK for hair loss.

Lifestyle Factors

While Finasteride is effective in treating male pattern baldness by reducing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), maintaining a healthy weight can also positively impact overall hair health. Excess weight can contribute to hormonal imbalances that may exacerbate hair loss.

Incorporating a medication like Mounjaro to aid in weight management can complement the effects of Finasteride. By controlling appetite and promoting weight loss, Mounjaro supports not just maintaining a healthy weight, but also enhances general well-being, offering a holistic approach to managing your health.
 

Finasteride and Minoxidil

As well as oral Finasteride, topical Minoxidil is available in the UK. We provide the branded version of Minoxidil, Regaine Foam. 

It's perfectly safe to use both treatments simultaneously and is often recommended to get the best results for hair regrowth.

Written by Qualified Experts

All of our medication and condition content is written by UK qualified pharmacists and doctors.

Authored: 19/03/2023

Hywel McGlinchy

GPhC Reg: 2215744

Clinical Pharmacist

MPharm | Cardiff University

Reviewed: 20/03/2025

Karim Nassar

GPhC Reg: 2064752

Pharmacist

MPharm | Strathclyde University

Further Hair Loss Reading

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

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