Fight Hair Loss with Oral Finasteride

Finasteride is a once-daily tablet that was FDA-approved in 1992 for male pattern baldness. It blocks the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is responsible for shrinking and weakening hair follicles.

In men with androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), the hair follicles in balding areas of the scalp have been damaged over time by exposure to DHT. The scalp tissue in balding spots also tends to have higher levels of DHT compared to hairy areas of the scalp.

Finasteride inhibits an enzyme called Type II 5α-reductase. This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). By blocking this enzyme, finasteride decreases DHT levels in the scalp, which interrupts the process of hair loss and thinning.

When you take a finasteride tablet, it reduces DHT levels by 65% within 24 hours.

However, regrowing hair is a gradual process. Even with DHT levels lowered, your scalp needs adequate time to recover and stimulate new growth. Most men begin to see regrowth after taking finasteride daily for 3 months.

Finasteride is an oral tablet that is taken once daily, with or without food. Taking it at the same time each day is important to maintain steady levels of the medication in your system.

Finasteride is generally well-tolerated, but some men may experience side effects. In clinical trials, the most common side effects were:

• • Erectile dysfunction
• • Ejaculation disorder
• • Decreased libido

If you experience persistent or bothersome side effects with finasteride, talk to your doctor. They can adjust your dosage or add other therapies to help manage the side effects.

Yes, you can safely combine finasteride and minoxidil. In fact, research shows that using finasteride and minoxidil together can provide better results than using either medication on its own.

Finasteride and minoxidil work in different ways to combat thinning hair and baldness. Finasteride blocks the hormone DHT, which causes shrinkage and gradual disappearance of hair follicles in male pattern baldness. Minoxidil, on the other hand, helps stimulate blood flow and nutrients around the follicles, encouraging regrowth.

ScriptsMD offers multiple topical solutions with both medications for those looking for an all-in-one solution.

When you start taking finasteride, you may notice an increase in hair shedding within the first few weeks. This temporary increase is a positive sign that the medication is working.

Finasteride stimulates follicles that are in their resting phase to enter the growth phase prematurely. But, before those follicles can generate new hairs, the old resting hairs need to be shed. This allows the new, healthy hairs to push through.

Finasteride is a long-term hair loss treatment. To be effective, finasteride needs to be taken consistently on an ongoing basis.

Finasteride works by blocking dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for hair loss in men. By inhibiting DHT, finasteride allows hair follicles to recover and promotes hair regrowth. However, this only lasts as long as you continue taking the medication.

If you stop taking finasteride, your DHT levels will rise again within a few months. Any new hair growth you have achieved will be lost within 12 months of discontinuing finasteride.

Finasteride is not FDA-approved for use in women. This is because finasteride may cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy.