Finasteride (1mg) | Side Effects, Dosage and More

What Causes Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern hair loss happens due to genetic factors and a hormone called DHT. DHT shortens the hair growth phase, leading to thinning.

Finasteride, an FDA-approved (2006) medication, reduces DHT by blocking an enzyme. It is effective for mild to moderate hair loss in men, slowing down hair loss progression.

Over five years, many men using Finasteride see improved hair growth as well.

Before Taking Finasteride: What You Need to Know

Before start using Finasteride, please discuss it with your doctor or a pharmacist. Keep in mind that can changes in mood, including feelings of sadness, depression, and in rarer cases, even thoughts of self-harm, have been noted in patients using Finasteride.

If you experience any of these symptoms stop taking Finasteride and contact your doctor for further medical advice as soon as possible.
Patient Information Leaflet:

Allergies and Gender:

• Do not take Finasteride if you're allergic to it or any of its ingredients (listed in the ingredients section).
• If you're a woman, don't use this medicine as it's intended for men only. Studies have shown that Finasteride doesn't work for women with hair loss.

Allergy Warning:

• Be careful of severe allergic reactions that could lead to trouble breathing, throat or tongue swelling, and hives.
• If you've had an allergic reaction to finasteride before, do not take it again; repeat exposure could be fatal.

Planning Pregnancy:

• Finasteride might be absorbed through the skin, so pregnant women and those planning pregnancy should avoid handling the drug to prevent birth defects.

Warnings for Specific Health Conditions:

• Liver Disease: People with liver disease may process finasteride more slowly, potentially leading to an increased risk of side effects. Your doctor might adjust your dosage accordingly.
  
  
• Prostate Cancer: If you have or had prostate cancer, finasteride could exacerbate a faster growing or irregular form of the cancer.

Other Warnings:

• Pregnant Women: Finasteride is not meant for women and should never be taken during pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding Women: should not be used by breastfeeding women, as its result through breast milk is unknown.

Children: Finasteride's safety and effectiveness in children are not established; it is not prescribed for pediatric use.
Always consult healthcare professionals for specific guidance and adhere closely to the original instructions.

Is Finasteride Associated with Side Effects?

Generally, finasteride stands as a safe and effective medication for most men. The majority of men dealing with hair loss and using finasteride witness reduced hair loss and enhanced hair growth, often with minimal adverse effects.

However, in a small percentage of men, finasteride might trigger side effects, including some affecting sexual desire and performance.

finasteride Potential side effects :

• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Reduced sex libido
• Ejaculation issues

These effects are rare. For instance, the most frequent side effect of finasteride in clinical trials, a decrease in libido, manifested in 1.8 percent of men on regular finasteride dosages, compared to 1.3 percent on a placebo.

Our comprehensive guide delves deeper into finasteride side effects, offering insights to consider before starting this medication.

If concerns about finasteride's side effects arise, exploring topical finasteride might be worthwhile.

Topical finasteride is applied directly to the scalp, targeting DHT's impact on hair follicles without affecting other body tissues. This approach potentially reduces the risk of systemic side effects linked to oral finasteride.

Our Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil Spray offers a comprehensive approach to addressing scalp hair loss.

How Long Does Finasteride Take to Work?

So, how long does finasteride take to work? Finasteride gets to work as soon as it's absorbed into your body. This means blocking testosterone-to-DHT conversion and having lower DHT levels soon after taking the first finasteride dose.

However, an immediate reduction in hair loss or changes in hair thickness should not be expected. Hair grows through a multi-phase process called the hair growth cycle. During the growth phase (anagen), hair takes two to six years to reach full length.

It means that even though finasteride starts working immediately, don't anticipate hair changes for several months, even if used as directed.

Rest assured, finasteride is active. With time, it accumulates in your body, meaning a daily 1mg dose effectively reduces DHT and treats hair loss.

Finasteride's Effectiveness:

Finasteride is a potent, everyday solution for male pattern baldness. Taken as a tablet daily, it boasts an impressive success rate of about 90% when used consistently. This treatment effectively works to stop hair loss and stimulate re-growth in some cases.

It is most effective for mild to moderate hair loss on the top caused by male pattern baldness. But it's not proven to reverse a receding hairline. Taking more than 1 tablet a day won't make Finasteride work faster or better. Stick to the prescribed dose.

Here is the study
Finasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, curbs male pattern hair loss by impeding DHT conversion. Clinical phase III studiesencompassing 1879 men unveiled that oral finasteride 1 mg/day stimulates hair growth and halts further loss significantly.

Improvement in hair count seen after a year continues throughout 2 years of treatment. In cases of vertex hair loss, 48% and 66% of finasteride users experienced heightened growth at 1 and 2 years, as opposed to 7% on placebo.

After 2 years, 83% on finasteride observed no additional hair loss versus 28% on placebo. Though generally well tolerated, 7.7% of finasteride reported treatment-related adverse events.

Sexual function concerns were more prevalent (3.8% vs 2.1% on placebo), resolving upon discontinuation. Rare drug-related events occurred. Oral finasteride is contraindicated in pregnant women due to potential fetal risk.

How to get better results from finasteride 

Besides using finasteride and minoxidil together, you can boost your hair growth and get the best finasteride outcomes by:

Picking a hair loss prevention shampoo: Go for shampoos with saw palmetto or ketoconazole. These might lower DHT levels and prevent male pattern baldness.

You can use thick Fix Thickening Shampoo contains saw palmetto to target DHT and give more volume and moisture.

Eating a balanced diet: While diet doesn't majorly affect male pattern baldness, it helps your hair grow well. Nutrient-rich food gives your body what it needs for healthy hair.

Our guide to hair growth foods lists nutritious stuff to add to your meals for stronger, better hair.

Making small changes for hair care: Simple steps like reducing stress (a cause of hair shedding) and using gentle hair products make a big difference. Our guide to lifestyle changes for better hair growth shows easy habits to fight hair loss.

Talking about side effects with your healthcare provider: Though finasteride works for most guys, it can cause side effects, including sexual ones.

If you have any finasteride side effects, tell your healthcare provider as soon as you can. Using these methods, you can make finasteride work even better for you and help your hair grow healthier and stronger.

Does Finasteride work in all men?

For the majority of men, it usually requires 3-6 months of using Finasteride every day to notice changes. The active ingredient (finasteride) tends to work well in stopping hair loss for around 9 out of 10 men. Some men even experience hair re-growth.

But remember much like any treatment, results can differ individually. Research into hair loss has indicated that Finasteride effectively halts hair loss in about 83% of men, with approximately 66% experiencing regrowth over a 2-year period.

Moreover, another study has revealed that consistent use of Finasteride over 5 years can assist up to 90% of men in preventing further hair loss.

These insights underscore the various outcomes that individuals might encounter while utilizing Finasteride to manage hair loss.

Stopping Finasteride: What Happens Next

Stopping Finasteride means hair loss will return. If you decide to stop taking Finasteride, give it 3 to 6 months for the full effect to fade.

Follow your doctor's advice. If you stop taking Finasteride, you are likely to lose the hair you have gained within 9 to 12 months. If you have more questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Finasteride 1mg Dosage:

The recommended dosage for Finasteride is straightforward: 1 tablet daily. You have the flexibility to take it with or without food. It's a 1mg tablet taken once a day. Remember, consistent usage is essential for the treatment's effectiveness.

What Finasteride Contains:

The active ingredient is (finasteride). Each film-coated tablet contains 1 mg of finasteride. Other ingredients include:

Tablet core: Lactose monohydrate, cellulose microcrystalline, sodium starch glycolate, starch pregelatinized [maize starch], docusate sodium, magnesium stearate.

Tablet coat: Hypromellose, hydroxy propyl cellulose, talc, titanium dioxide (E171), red iron oxide (E172), yellow iron oxide (E172).

Appearance and Packaging: The film-coated tablet is brown colored, octagonal, and biconvex. The tablet is imprinted with 'J' on one side and '81' on the other side.

Finasteride film-coated tablets are available in blister packs made of white opaque PVC/PE/PVdC – Aluminium foil. They are also provided in HDPE bottles with a polypropylene cap containing silica gel as a desiccant.

Please ensure to consult the package insert or your healthcare provider for comprehensive and accurate information about Finasteride.

Proper Storage and Disposal::

Keep this medication in its original container, tightly sealed, and out of children's reach. Store it at room temperature, away from excessive heat and moisture. Avoid storing it in the bathroom.

Child Safety:- Ensure that all medications are out of sight and reach of children. Containers like pill minders, eye drop bottles, creams, patches, and inhalers are often not child-resistant and can be easily opened by young children.

To prevent accidental ingestion, always lock safety caps and place medication in a secure location that is up, away, and out of children's reach.

Disposal:

Unused or unneeded medications should be disposed of in a way that prevents accidental consumption by pets, children, and others.

Do not flush this medication down the toilet. The recommended method for disposal is through a medicine take-back program. For details about take-back programs in your region, seek advice from your pharmacist or local garbage/recycling department.

If no take-back option is accessible, consult the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website for guidance. Remember to always adhere to these guidelines to guarantee the safe storage and appropriate disposal of medications.

Takeaway on Finasteride's 1mg

Finasteride remains the most extensively studied and effective medication for treating hair loss. So, how long does finasteride take to work?

If you're facing hair loss, you can anticipate noticing improvements from finasteride within about three to four months of consistent use. More significant outcomes usually become apparent after approximately a year.

Consistency is key—continue taking finasteride daily, even if immediate changes aren't evident. Hair regrowth is a gradual process, and patience is essential in addressing androgenic alopecia.

For those addressing hair loss and seeking proactive solutions, online access to finasteride and other hair loss treatments is available.

In summary, comprehensive insights into treating and preventing hair loss with finasteride can be found in our detailed guide on finasteride for hair loss.