Can I get it?
Yes, if a doctor decides it is right for you. Finasteride is authorised in the EU and can be prescribed after a medical review.
FinasteridePrescription only
Online medical consultation for Finasteride.
An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and, if eligible, issues an electronic prescription valid at any EU pharmacy under Directive 2011/24/EU.
- One tablet a day, with or without food
- Blocks DHT — the hormone behind pattern hair loss
- Decades of clinical evidence
Start consultationStart consultation · €15/month
Full refund if a review is not approved · Medication, if prescribed, is dispensed and paid for separately at a pharmacy.
IN PLAIN TERMS
What Finasteride is, and how to get treatment
Finasteride is a daily 1 mg tablet, and it is one of the few hair-loss medicines that is formally authorised for this purpose in EU countries. It works by lowering DHT, a hormone made from testosterone that gradually shrinks hair follicles in male pattern hair loss. It is authorised for men only, and it is not for women. The most talked-about side effects are sexual ones, such as lower sex drive or difficulty getting an erection; in the trials these affected about 4 men in 100 in the first year compared with about 2 in 100 taking a dummy tablet, and European regulators also require a warning about mood changes, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
Finasteride has been authorised for use in the EU since 1 February 1999, so a licensed doctor can prescribe it when it is clinically appropriate for you.
What can I take instead?
Our doctors review every Hair growth option and recommend what fits your history and goals.
See all Hair growth optionsWhat do the studies show?
Every trial behind Finasteride is listed below with how many people took part and whether the results are peer-reviewed or a company announcement.
Jump to the studiesVERIFIED EVIDENCE
Finasteride: evidence and regulatory guide.
WHAT IT IS
How it works
It blocks the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles in male pattern hair loss, so less DHT reaches the scalp.
- 5-alpha-reductase type II
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
EU-authorised medicine
Trial register1 registered trials
Every NCT identifier links to its ClinicalTrials.gov record. A readout is not the same as peer-reviewed publication.
| TRIAL / NCT | POPULATION | PARTICIPANTS | STATUS | READOUT / COMPLETION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group (two 1-year randomised placebo-controlled trials plus a blinded second-year extension) | Men aged 18-41 with vertex androgenetic alopecia | 1,553 | Read out | 1998-10-01 |
What the studies reported
Results are grouped by source and evidence grade so journal data and manufacturer announcements cannot be confused.
Peer-reviewed
Kaufman KD, Olsen EA, Whiting D, et al. Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;39(4 Pt 1):578-589. doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(98)70007-6 (PMID 9777765)| DOSE OR GROUP | MEAN WEIGHT CHANGE | WEEKS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mg daily | +107 hairs vs placebo, counted in a 1-inch (5.1 cm2) circle of balding vertex scalp (baseline 876 hairs) | 52 |
| 1 mg daily | +138 hairs vs placebo, counted in a 1-inch (5.1 cm2) circle of balding vertex scalp | 104 |
The trials enrolled only men aged 18-41 with vertex-pattern loss, did not establish an effect on bitemporal recession or late-stage hair loss, and the EU product information states that continued use is needed to keep the benefit.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-07-27
- AEMPS CIMA - Propecia 1 mg comprimidos recubiertos, ficha tecnica (Spain, registration 62441, authorised 1 February 1999)
- emc - Propecia 1 mg Film-Coated Tablets, Summary of Product Characteristics
- EMA - Article 31 referral: finasteride- and dutasteride-containing medicinal products
- Kaufman et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 1998 (PMID 9777765)
NAMED SAFETY SIGNALS
What has been reported with Finasteride.
Sexual adverse reactions (overall rate)
In the phase III trials, drug-related sexual adverse reactions were reported in 3.8% of men on finasteride 1 mg vs 2.1% on placebo during the first 12 months, falling to 0.6% over the following four years. About 1% of men in each group stopped treatment for this reason in the first 12 months (EU SmPC, section 4.8).
Decreased libido
Classified as uncommon (1 in 1,000 to 1 in 100) in the EU SmPC. Reported in 1.8% of men on finasteride 1 mg vs 1.3% on placebo.
Erectile dysfunction
Classified as uncommon (1 in 1,000 to 1 in 100) in the EU SmPC. Reported in 1.3% of men on finasteride 1 mg vs 0.7% on placebo.
Ejaculation disorder, including reduced ejaculate volume
Classified as uncommon in the EU SmPC. Decreased ejaculate volume reported in 0.8% of men on finasteride 1 mg vs 0.4% on placebo.
Sexual dysfunction that persists after stopping
Persistence of decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorders after finasteride is stopped has been reported in post-marketing use. Frequency is not known because these are spontaneous reports.
Depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation
Depression is listed as uncommon; anxiety and suicidal ideation are listed with frequency not known. After an EU-wide Article 31 review (started October 2024, EC decision August 2025), suicidal ideation was confirmed as a side effect of finasteride 1 mg and 5 mg tablets at an unknown frequency, and a patient card is now included in 1 mg packs. Patients who experience mood changes should seek medical advice and, on finasteride 1 mg, stop treatment.
Male breast cancer
Reported during post-marketing use; frequency cannot be estimated from the available data.
Contraindicated in women
The EU product information contraindicates use in women because finasteride can cause abnormalities of the external genitalia in a male foetus if taken during pregnancy.
€15/month (billed €45 every 90 days)Start a medical consultation
Form1 mg oral tablet
FrequencyOnce a day
ResultsStabilises at months 3–6
What you pay Hi-Doctor€15/month (billed €45 every 90 days)
IN 60 SECONDS
Finasteride at a glance
- A 4-azasteroid 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, taken as a 1 mg film-coated tablet.
- For adult men with male pattern hair loss; not authorised for women or under-18s.
- One 1 mg tablet swallowed whole by mouth, once a day, with or without food.
- Sexual side effects and low mood, which can persist after the tablets stop.
- Hi-Doctor consultation fee; the medicine is paid separately at a pharmacy
About
What is Finasteride?
Also sold as Propecia.
Active ingredient: Finasteride · Dosages: 1 mg / day
Finasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor: it reduces the conversion of testosterone into DHT, the hormone responsible for follicle miniaturisation in male androgenetic alopecia.
It's a continuous daily treatment — on discontinuation, effects fade over 6–12 months. A licensed doctor confirms the diagnosis, reviews the risks with you and rules out contraindications before prescribing.
HOW IT WORKS
What Finasteride does in your body
By lowering DHT, finasteride slows or stops the progressive shrinking of the hair follicle. Stabilisation comes first — usually at 3–6 months — and visible improvement, where it happens, builds from 6–12 months.
DHT shrinks the hair follicle
Male pattern hair loss is driven by dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, a hormone the body makes from testosterone. A balding scalp contains miniaturised follicles and higher amounts of DHT, so each growth cycle produces a thinner, shorter hair until visible growth stops.
Finasteride blocks the converting enzyme
Finasteride is a 4-azasteroid that inhibits type II 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme found in hair follicles that converts testosterone into DHT. The Spanish regulator's product file records that it is about 100 times more selective for the type II enzyme than for type I.
Scalp DHT falls, follicles recover
With the enzyme blocked, DHT concentrations fall in both blood and scalp tissue. That removes the signal driving miniaturisation, so some affected follicles go back to producing thicker hairs. The effect depends on continued dosing, and stopping returns the scalp to its untreated state within nine to twelve months.
How it helps
How it protects your hair.
Blocks the cause
Targets DHT, the hormonal driver of pattern loss — not just the symptom.
Stabilises first
Most men notice the shedding slows between months 3 and 6.
Built for the long term
Effects are maintained with continuous use and periodic medical reviews.
What to expect
A steady, monitored routine.
One 1 mg tablet daily. Results are assessed over months, not weeks — and your doctor follows up through your account chat.
- Months 1–3 · Daily 1 mg; changes build silently
- Months 3–6 · Shedding stabilises
- Months 6–12 · Visible improvement is assessed
- Ongoing · Continuous use with periodic reviews
Doses your doctor can prescribe
- Standard dose1 mg / day
Your schedule is personal
These are typical steps only. Your doctor adjusts the plan to how you respond and tolerate it — and you can message them at any point.
DAY TO DAY
Taking Finasteride day to day
Take one tablet a day
Swallow one 1 mg tablet once daily, with or without food. The product file states there is no evidence that a higher dose improves results, so never take more than one tablet in a day.
Anchor it to a routine
NHS guidance is that the time of day does not matter, as long as it is roughly the same time each day. Attaching the tablet to something you already do daily makes a long course easier to keep up.
Swallow whole, never crush
Swallow tablets whole with water and do not break or crush them. The film coating exists specifically to stop anyone handling the tablet from touching the active ingredient during normal use.
Keep broken tablets from pregnancy
A woman who is pregnant or might become pregnant must not handle crushed or broken tablets, because absorbed finasteride can affect the external genitals of a male foetus. If contact happens, speak to a doctor.
Missed a dose? Skip it
NHS advice is to take a missed dose if fewer than six hours have passed, and otherwise to skip it and take the next one at the usual time. Never take two tablets to catch up.
Allow three to six months
The product file states that three to six months of daily treatment are generally needed before stabilisation of hair loss can be expected. Judging the medicine before then gives a misleading picture of whether it works.
Flag it before a PSA test
Finasteride lowers prostate-specific antigen. The product file instructs doctors to consider doubling the measured PSA value before interpreting it, so tell whoever orders the test that you take finasteride.
Do not donate blood
UK donor selection guidelines defer blood donation until four weeks after the last dose. The reason is to make sure a pregnant transfusion recipient is never exposed to finasteride through donated blood.
Safety first
Safety, in full.
Finasteride is an effective medicine — and like any medicine it carries risks. Your doctor screens for all of this before prescribing. Here's the honest picture, not just reassurance.
Side effects, by how often they happen
Stop and get urgent medical help if
seek medical help immediately
these need urgent attention, whatever the frequency
- Suicidal thoughts of any kind: stop the tablets and get help now
- Depression or a persistently low mood: stop taking it and call your doctor
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing
- Lumps, pain, swelling or nipple discharge anywhere in the chest area
- Rash that is raised, itchy, blistered or peeling, or hives
- Confusion, drowsiness, dizziness or loss of consciousness after a dose
Uncommon
uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100)
up to 1 in 100 people
- Less interest in sex, reported by 1.8% against 1.3% on placebo
- Difficulty getting or keeping an erection, 1.3% against 0.7% on placebo
- Reduced volume of semen, reported by 0.8% against 0.4% on placebo
- Other disorders of ejaculation
- Depressed mood or depression
- Any sexual side effect: 3.8% in year one, falling to 0.6% later
Reported since launch, frequency unknown
not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
reported since launch, but how often is unknown
- Breast tenderness or breast enlargement
- Breast cancer in men
- Testicular pain
- Blood in the semen
- Palpitations, a noticeable heartbeat
- Raised liver enzymes on a blood test
- Anxiety, and suicidal ideation
- Male infertility or poor semen quality
- Sexual dysfunction that persists after treatment is stopped
- Allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives and swelling
Adult men with mild-to-moderate androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss).
- 1 mg orally once a day, with or without food.
- Visible response usually appears at 3–6 months and stabilises by 12 months.
- Stopping treatment reverses the gains within 6–12 months.
- Not licensed for pre-menopausal women; pregnant women should not handle broken or crushed tablets (risk to a male foetus).
WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE IT, AND WHO NEEDS EXTRA CARE
- You are a woman: finasteride is contraindicated in women and did not work for hair loss in female trials.
- You are pregnant or could become pregnant, because finasteride can affect the external genitals of a male foetus.
- You are under 18: there are no data demonstrating efficacy or safety in children or adolescents.
- You are allergic to finasteride or to any other ingredient in the tablet.
- You already take finasteride 5 mg or dutasteride for an enlarged prostate: these must not be combined.
- You have inherited galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption, because the tablets contain lactose.
- You have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts and have not disclosed it: regulators advise reviewing this before prescribing.
- You have a PSA test or prostate assessment planned and have not told the clinician you take finasteride.
- You have liver problems: the effect of hepatic impairment on finasteride has not been studied.
- You are about to donate blood, which UK guidelines defer until four weeks after the last dose.
When to seek urgent care
For severe, sudden or unexpected symptoms, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. Then let your doctor know through your account chat.
Medicines and substances that interact
| MEDICINE OR SUBSTANCE | WHAT CAN HAPPEN | WHAT THE DOCTOR DOES |
|---|---|---|
| Finasteride 5 mg (for enlarged prostate) | Same active ingredient at five times the dose, with no extra hair benefit. | Only one is prescribed. The prescriber will not combine them. |
| Dutasteride | Another 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, so the two act on the same pathway. | The prescriber avoids combining them and selects one. |
| Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. ketoconazole, ritonavir) | May raise finasteride blood levels, which the product file judges unlikely to matter clinically. | Noted in the record. A dose change is not normally needed. |
| Strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g. rifampicin, carbamazepine) | May lower finasteride blood levels through the same enzyme system. | The prescriber reviews the response rather than altering the dose. |
| Topical minoxidil | The leaflet states no information is available on using the two together. | The prescriber decides case by case and records the reasoning. |
| PSA blood test (not a medicine) | Finasteride lowers the PSA reading, which can mask a genuinely raised result. | The prescriber flags current finasteride use on the test request. |
| Blood or plasma donation | Donated blood could expose a pregnant transfusion recipient to finasteride. | UK guidance defers donation until four weeks after the last dose. |
Have a doctor review your caseThis is exactly what the doctor screens for before prescribing anything.
Read the full Finasteride safety summaryEVIDENCE
What the clinical trials found
The finasteride 1 mg licence rests on the Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group programme, two one-year trials in 1,553 men that were extended to five years.
1,553 men aged 18 to 41 · 12 months
Counted in a 2.54 cm circle of scalp, against a baseline of 876 hairs.
Source: Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia (Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group)Men aged 18 to 41 in the 1 mg trials · 2 years
Over the same period the placebo group fell by 50 hairs, so the gap widened from both directions.
Source: Ficha Técnica: finasterida cinfa 1 mg comprimidos recubiertos con película EFG279 men on finasteride and 16 on placebo · 5 years
Randomisation in the extension years ran nine to one.
Source: Ficha Técnica: finasterida cinfa 1 mg comprimidos recubiertos con película EFG279 men on finasteride · 5 years
Combines men rated improved with men rated unchanged against their own baseline photograph. Investigator assessment gave 93%.
Source: Ficha Técnica: finasterida cinfa 1 mg comprimidos recubiertos con película EFG1,553 men aged 18 to 41 · Year 1
Finasteride against placebo. Among finasteride users the rate fell to 0.6% across the following four years.
Source: Ficha Técnica: finasterida cinfa 1 mg comprimidos recubiertos con película EFGThese figures are group averages, and averages hide a wide spread, so some men in the same trials gained far more hair than the mean while others gained none at all. The five-year numbers also describe men who kept taking a tablet every day for five years, which is the harder part in practice. Your own result cannot be predicted from these numbers, and the doctor reviewing your case is the person who can say what is realistic for you.
ALTERNATIVES
How finasteride compares with the other hair options
| MEDICINE | HOW IT IS TAKEN | HOW OFTEN | TYPICAL DOSE RANGE | EU-AUTHORISED INDICATION | KEY EVIDENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutasteride | Oral capsule | Once daily | 0.5 mg | Authorised in the EU for moderate to severe symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, not for hair loss. | No EU hair-loss licence, so no on-indication efficacy figure exists |
| Minoxidil | Topical solution or foam applied to the scalp | Twice daily | 1 ml of 2% or 5% | Authorised for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men, applied to the scalp rather than swallowed. | 48-week trial: +18.6 non-vellus hairs on 5% against +3.9 on vehicle |
Not sure which one fits your case? The doctor reviews your history and tells you.
Start consultation · €15/monthACCESS AND COST
Getting Finasteride, and what it costs
Finasteride 1 mg is a prescription-only medicine across the EU, so it cannot be bought over the counter and a doctor has to assess you first. Hair loss is treated as a self-funded indication, which means the patient pays rather than the national health system. Those two facts follow from the EU-wide supply classification and from hair loss sitting outside every national reimbursement list we could source, not from a separate check of all ten registers below; the register linked on each row is the current authority for that country.
What you pay Hi-Doctor
€15/month (billed €45 every 90 days)
Answer a few questions and a licensed EU doctor reviews your case in less than 2 hours on average. Refunded in full if it's not right for you.
What the pharmacy charges
Hi-Doctor does not sell, stock or dispense medicines and does not set their price. The medicine is paid for separately at the pharmacy, and the amount depends on the country, the pack size, whether a generic is available and whether your health system covers it. The official national database linked in the table publishes the current authorised price.
| COUNTRY | HOW IT IS SUPPLIED | COVERED BY THE HEALTH SYSTEM? | OFFICIAL SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | AEMPS CIMA |
Show the other countries
| Germany | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | PharmNet.Bund AMIce |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | Base de données publique des médicaments |
| Italy | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | AIFA Medicinali |
| Netherlands | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | CBG-MEB Geneesmiddeleninformatiebank |
| Portugal | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | INFARMED Infomed |
| Belgium | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | FAGG-AFMPS medicines database |
| Ireland | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | HPRA Find a Medicine |
| Austria | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | BASG Medikamente Info Austria |
| Poland | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for androgenetic alopecia | Rejestr Produktów Leczniczych |
PRICING
You only pay if treatment is approved.
€25/month for weight loss or €15/month (billed €45 every 90 days) for hair growth. €35 one-off is available for sexual health.
Hair growth
ONGOING PLAN
€15/month
Billed €45 every 90 days · cancel anytime
For ongoing treatment and doctor-reviewed renewals.
Lowest monthly price we offer
Start consultation
Full refund if a review is not approved
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- First consultation included
- Renewals reviewed by your doctor
- Ongoing care with your doctor
- Cancel anytime
Full refund if a review is not approved
If a review is not approved, we refund that period's €45 fee and cancel the plan.
Note: The medication, if the doctor prescribes it, is paid separately at the pharmacy at the price it sets. Hi-Doctor does not sell medications.
HOW THE DOCTOR DECIDES
A licensed doctor reviews your case, not an algorithm
An EU-licensed doctor reads your questionnaire and answers in less than 2 hours on average.
If the doctor decides it is not safe to prescribe, the consultation fee is refunded in full.
Follow-up happens in the private chat inside your account, under GDPR. No WhatsApp, no SMS.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about Finasteride.
OTHER HAIR GROWTH TREATMENTS
Explore related treatments.
SOURCES
Where this information comes from
- 01
Propecia 1 mg Film-Coated Tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic Medicines Compendium (emc), 2025
- 02
Propecia 1 mg Film-Coated Tablets: Package Leaflet, Information for the user — electronic Medicines Compendium (emc), 2025
- 03
Ficha Técnica: finasterida cinfa 1 mg comprimidos recubiertos con película EFG — AEMPS CIMA (Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices), 2025
- 04
Finasteride 1 mg film-coated tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic Medicines Compendium (emc), 2025
- 05
Finasteride 1 mg tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics (PSA and prostate cancer sections) — electronic Medicines Compendium (emc), 2025
- 06
Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia (Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group) — Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, via PubMed, 1998
- 07
Long-term (5-year) multinational experience with finasteride 1 mg in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia — European Journal of Dermatology, via PubMed, 2002
- 08
Measures to minimise risk of suicidal thoughts with finasteride and dutasteride medicines — European Medicines Agency, 2025
- 09
Finasteride- and dutasteride-containing medicinal products: Article 31 referral — European Medicines Agency, 2025
- 10
Finasteride and dutasteride: updated safety warnings for psychiatric side effects and sexual dysfunction — MHRA Drug Safety Update, 2025
- 11
Side effects of finasteride — NHS, 2025
- 12
How and when to take finasteride — NHS, 2025
- 13
Fertility and pregnancy while taking finasteride — NHS, 2025
- 14
Common questions about finasteride — NHS, 2025
- 15
Avodart 0.5 mg soft capsules (dutasteride): Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic Medicines Compendium (emc), 2025
- 16
Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Solution 5% w/v (minoxidil): Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic Medicines Compendium (emc), 2025
- 17
Do my medicines mean I can't give blood? (citing the UK Whole Blood and Component Donor Selection Guidelines) — The Pharmaceutical Journal, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 2013
Reviewed by Hi-Doctor's medical team · Last reviewed 2026-07-27 · Next review due 2027-07-27
This page is educational information about a medicine, not a recommendation to take it and not a substitute for a medical consultation. Only a licensed doctor who has reviewed your history can decide whether a treatment is appropriate for you.
Find out if it's right for you
See if Finasteride is appropriate for you.
Answer a few questions and a licensed EU doctor reviews your case in less than 2 hours on average. Refunded in full if it's not right for you.