What are the side effects of Finasteride?

If you suffer from hair loss as a man, you have undoubtedly heard of Finasteride by now. In fact, that's probably why you're reading this blog. If you are unsure about going bald, you can visit our blog 'am I going bald?'find ways to find out if you're going bald.

Finasteride is the active ingredient in Propecia® and is one of the most popular and effective hair loss medications available today. It is also the only treatment that blocks DHT (Dihydrotestosterone, an androgen that contributes to hair loss) and has been approved by the FDA. You can read exactly how Finasteride helps against hair loss in our blog: Finasteride against hair loss.

Finasteride is so popular simply because it works well. It has been scientifically proven that Finasteride stops hair loss and even improves hair growth in many men. Most men see treatment results within three to 6 months.

Finasteride is available in pill form and is meant to be taken once a day. It is therefore easy to use and, if approved by a doctor, is a safe option for most men to stop male pattern baldness. If you intervene on time, this can save you from an expensive cosmetic procedure.

However, like other medications, Finasteride also comes with the risk of side effects.

There are also many misleading warnings about Finasteride at the moment, which is why it's important to know the facts before you start using it yourself.

This information is intended for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice. Always consult a doctor before you start taking medication.

A short summary of this blog

• In general, the risk of side effects from Finasteride is low. Scientific research shows that most men who use Finasteride over the long term can successfully treat hair loss with few or no side effects.
• Low libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculation problems are some of the known sexual side effects of Finasteride.
• Because mood swings and depressive thoughts have been reported as side effects, a history of psychological complaints is a contraindication.
• To reduce the side effects of Finasteride, it is important to follow the prescribed dosage of 1mg, or to consider a lower dose in consultation with a doctor.
• If you've tried to reduce the side effects of Finasteride and they persist, it's recommended that you speak to a doctor about what other options you have.

Below, we've listed both the common and the less common side effects you may experience while using Finasteride to treat male hair loss. We also describe what you can do to reduce your risk of developing side effects while taking Finasteride.

Common side effects of Finasteride

Like other FDA-approved medications, finasteride underwent a thorough testing process before becoming available to the general public. As a result, many studies have been done into the possible side effects.

Common Propecia side effects (1mg finasteride) include:

• Erectile dysfunction: In clinical trials, 1.3 percent of men who took finasteride experienced erectile dysfunction, compared to 0.7 percent of men who took a placebo.
• Decreased libido: 1.8 percent of men taking finasteride 1mg reported decreased interest in sex, compared to 1.3 percent of men treated with placebo.
• Ejaculation disorder: Overall, 1.2 percent of men who used finasteride reported problems related to ejaculation, with 0.8 percent reporting lower sperm volume. By comparison, 0.4 percent of men who used a placebo treatment reported lower sperm volume.

1.2 percent of men who participated in finasteride clinical trials discontinued their medication due to negative effects. Remarkably, 0.9 percent of men who received a placebo in clinical trials also discontinued treatment due to side effects, suggesting that the frequency of serious adverse effects directly caused by finasteride is low.

Less common side effects of Finasteride

Finasteride may also cause other less common side effects. These include:

• Depression
• suicidal thoughts
• Testicular pain
• Breast sensitivity
• Blood in semen
• Chest pain
• Nipple discharge

These side effects occur in a small percentage of men who use Finasteride. In addition, some of the ingredients in finasteride may cause an allergic reaction in some people. Possible signs of an allergic reaction include:

• Rash
• Hives
• Itching and swelling affecting the tongue, lips, face, and throat
  

Tell your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any signs of an allergic reaction after using finasteride.

How can you reduce the side effects of Finasteride?

By using finasteride properly, you can reduce the risk of developing side effects. To use finasteride safely, try the following tips:

• Take finasteride at the prescribed dosage. Finasteride is prescribed at a dosage of 1mg per day for the treatment of male pattern baldness. There is no need to take a higher dose than this, as this will not significantly lower your DHT levels. Using finasteride in higher doses may increase your risk of side effects.
• Try to take finasteride around the same time each day. Finasteride usually works best when taken at about the same time each day. You can take finasteride with or without food.
• If you miss a dose, skip it and wait for the next one. If you forget to take finasteride, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule the next day. Do not take more than one dose of finasteride at a time.
• Store finasteride properly. Store finasteride at room temperature in its original packaging. Avoid storing finasteride in the bathroom or other areas with heat or excess moisture.
  

If you develop side effects, let your healthcare provider know. In certain cases, side effects are a temporary nuisance. Be sure to inform your healthcare provider so that they can monitor your progress and adjust your dosage if necessary.

Tell your healthcare provider about other medications you're taking. Finasteride generally does not interact with other medicines. This means that you can take almost all other medications in combination with Finasteride. However, it's still important to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you're taking or medical conditions you have.

Are there permanent side effects due to Finasteride?

There's a reason why Finasteride has been used to treat male pattern baldness since 1996 — it works and is considered safe.

However, it is important to note that although rare, side effects persist in some users even after stopping Finasteride. This condition is known as post-finasteride syndrome (PFS). However, it is important to note that much of this research is based on self-observations or online studies that cannot be fully verified.

PFS is characterized by persistent side effects on a person's sexual function and psychology that develop in users who have stopped taking Finasteride. Possible symptoms include:

• Low libido
• Erectile dysfunction
• Decreased excitement
• Difficulty reaching orgasm
• Depression
• Anxiety

A study published in 2014 in the journal American Journal of Men's Health studied 131 men, an average of 24 years old, who used Finasteride for hair loss and reported persistent side effects.

The study shows that these men still experienced sexual and psychological side effects after stopping Finasteride. This suggests that this may be PFS.

Although this pilot study showed that participants had strong similarities with common PFS symptoms, the study cannot draw general conclusions and state that finasteride directly causes these symptoms mentioned above.

Simply put, more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions about whether side effects of Finasteride can persist after stopping treatment.

Effects of Finasteride on the Prostate (PSA)

It is important to mention that finasteride may affect the results of a blood test called prostate specific antigen (PSA). This test is used in prostate cancer studies. So, if you have a PSA test, tell your doctor that you are taking finasteride, because finasteride lowers the concentration of PSA.

Men are advised to have their PSA levels checked between the ages of 45 and 50.

The Key Points About Finasteride Side Effects

While finasteride may cause side effects, research shows that they only occur in a small percentage of men taking this medication, especially at the low dose of 1 mg per day used to treat male pattern baldness.

If you're considering treating hair loss with finasteride, here's what you should remember from this blog:

• Finasteride is available in pill form. Finasteride has been approved by the FDA to treat hair loss in men.
• Finasteride is tried and tested and reliable. While finasteride's side effects may seem alarming, it's important to see them in context. Because the drug has been used for more than 20 years to treat male pattern baldness, it has also been studied for so long and has been subjected to the most stringent testing processes available.
• Side effects are generally mild. The most common side effects of finasteride include erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and ejaculation problems. While other side effects may occur, they are rare and stop occurring for most men when they stop taking finasteride.
• If you're starting to notice the first signs of hair loss and want to take action, taking finasteride can be an effective way to maintain the hair you have and stimulate growth in the areas of balding areas.

Are you ready to fight against hair loss? Start with your free online consultation below and complete the questionnaire, reviewed by a BIG-registered doctor, to find out if finasteride is a safe option for you. If it does prove to be a safe option for you, you can order it immediately. Within 5 working days, finasteride will be discreetly delivered to your home by our authorized Dutch pharmacy.

Resources

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4. Hu, R., et al. (2015). Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized and comparative study in Chinese patients. Dermatologic Therapy. 28 (5), 303-308. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/dth.12246
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7. PROSCAR- finasteride tablet, film coated. (2021, June). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/spl/data/3e8b449e-a4c8-4e20-a32d-94b347a35f46/3e8b449e-a4c8-4e20-a32d-94b347a35f46.xml
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10. Questions and Answers: Finasteride Label Changes. (2016, April 13). Retrieved from https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170723090425/https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/ucm299754.htm
11. Post-finasteride syndrome: An emerging clinical problem - ScienceDirect https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2019.100209
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13. FDA Drug Safety Communication: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) may increase the risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer. (2018, February 8). Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-5-alpha-reductase-inhibitors-5-aris-may-increase-risk-more-serious

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