What Causes Erectile Dysfunction? Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Treatments Explained
13/04/2026
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What is Finasteride?
A once-a-day tablet that slows male pattern hair loss and helps many men keep the hair they have.
- Effective for 90% of men at halting hair loss and promoting regrowth
- A first-line treatment for male pattern hair loss
- Just one small tablet a day
- Prescribed online after a quick consultation reviewed by a UK clinician
Pricing
| 1 mg | |
| 28 Tablets | £10.99 |
| 56 Tablets | £19.99 |
| 84 Tablets | £29.99 |
| 84 Tablets (Accord Brand) | £44.99 |
168 Tablets | £52.99 |
| 168 Tablets (Accord Brand) | £69.99 |
NOTE: Brands and packaging may differ from picture.
When starting the consultation you will be redirected to the treatments page where you can start the short questionnaire.
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Buy finasteride tablets
You can buy Finasteride only if it’s been approved and prescribed by one of our clinicians, as it’s a prescription-only medicine in the UK.
Finasteride is a treatment for men with mild to moderate male pattern baldness. It can help stop hair loss and, for many men, regrow some of the hair they’ve lost.
To buy it from The Family Chemist, you fill in a short online consultation about your health and your hair loss. A clinician checks your answers and decides whether finasteride is safe for you before anything is prescribed. If it’s approved, we will send it out in plain, discreet packaging.
What is finasteride?
Finasteride is the active ingredient in the tablets, the part that does the work. It belongs to a group of medicines called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.
For male pattern hair loss, the dose is 1mg once a day. You might also see finasteride sold as a 5mg tablet, but that treats an enlarged prostate.
How does finasteride work?
Male pattern hair loss is driven by a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Over time, DHT can shrink the hair follicles until they stop growing visible hair. Finasteride lowers how much testosterone your body turns into DHT.
With less DHT reaching the follicles, hair loss can slow down, and the follicles get a chance to recover. It only works while you take it, so you need to take it every day. It can slow hair loss and regrow some hair, but it is not a cure.
Is finasteride 1mg right for my type of hair loss?
Finasteride is for male pattern hair loss, not every kind of hair loss. Male pattern is the most common type. It affects roughly a third of men by age 30, half by 50, and around 80% by 70.
The usual signs of male pattern hair loss are:
- A receding hairline
- Thinning at the temples
- Thinning at the crown
- Gradual thinning across the top of the scalp
If your hair loss came on suddenly, is patchy, or doesn’t look like the pattern above, speak to your GP before starting an online treatment. That kind of hair loss can have other causes, such as stress, illness, rapid weight loss, or low iron levels, though these tend to be temporary and settle once the cause is addressed.
This is what the consultation is for. A clinician can look at what you’re describing and tell you whether finasteride is the right fit.
How effective is finasteride?
Roughly 90% of men either kept the hair they had or grew some back. Longer studies found the benefit held up over five years, and European dermatology guidelines list finasteride as a first-line treatment for male pattern hair loss.
In two-year trials leading to its approval, 83% of men taking finasteride 1mg had no further hair loss, compared with 28% on a dummy pill. Among men thinning at the crown, 66% showed visibly better hair growth in standard photos.
Results vary from man to man, though, and there are no guarantees of regrowth. Finasteride works best for early-to-moderate hair loss rather than advanced baldness, where there is less hair left to save. And it works best when you take it every day.
It also needs time. Give it three to six months of daily use before you judge whether it’s helping. And it only keeps working while you take it. The NHS notes that if you stop, the benefit can fade over the next 6 to 12 months.
How long does finasteride 1mg take to work?
Finasteride is slow. Some men may notice a difference after three to six months, but fuller results usually take around a year of daily use.
A couple of things catch men out early. Some may shed a little more in the first few weeks as the follicles reset, which is not a sign the treatment is failing. And because the change is so gradual, it’s hard to see day to day.
The easiest way to track it is a monthly photo, taken in the same spot, same light, same angle. If you’ve used it properly for several months and still can’t see any change, that’s the point to check back in with a clinician.
Who can use finasteride?
Finasteride 1mg is usually suitable for adult men with male pattern hair loss. It is not for women or children. Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant should not even handle the tablets.
Whether it’s right for you also depends on your medical history, any other medicines you take, and your answers during the consultation. Following updated MHRA safety guidance, a few things matter, so please tell us if any apply to you:
- A history of depression or suicidal thoughts
- sexual side effects on similar medicines
- any prostate testing (finasteride can affect PSA results)
- liver problems
Before prescribing finasteride 1mg, the MHRA now requires clinicians to check your medical record and ask about any history of depression or suicidal thoughts. This is a standard part of our consultation, and it’s there to keep you safe. Please answer these questions honestly.
How to take finasteride tablets
The usual dose is one 1mg tablet, once a day. A few practical points:
- Take it with or without food; either is fine.
- The time of day doesn’t matter, but taking it at roughly the same time each day makes it easier to remember.
- Swallow the tablet whole with water. Don’t crush or break it.
- Taking more than one a day won’t work faster or better, so stick to one.
Always follow the specific instructions that come with your prescription.
What if I miss a dose?
If it’s been less than 6 hours since your usual time, take it as soon as you remember. If more than 6 hours have passed, skip it and take your next dose as normal. Don’t take two to catch up. The NHS advises the same. If you’re often missing doses, set a phone alarm or a daily reminder to help you remember.
Finasteride 1mg side effects
Not everyone gets side effects, and most men take finasteride without a problem. But you should know what to look for.
The more common ones affect sexual function:
- lower sex drive
- difficulty getting or keeping an erection
- problems with ejaculation
Less commonly, finasteride has been linked to changes in mood, including depression and suicidal thoughts. It can also cause breast changes such as lumps, pain, swelling, or discharge from the nipple, which should always be checked by a doctor. And as with any medicine, an allergic reaction is possible; signs include a rash, swelling of the face or throat, and difficulty breathing.
If you develop low mood, depression, or any thoughts of harming yourself while taking finasteride, stop taking it and contact a doctor straight away. If you are in crisis, call the Samaritans free on 116 123, or NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
The MHRA has strengthened its warnings on finasteride’s psychiatric and sexual side effects, and notes that sexual side effects themselves can sometimes contribute to low mood. If you experience any side effect, you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Can I drink alcohol on finasteride?
Yes. There’s no known interaction between finasteride and alcohol, so the NHS confirms you can drink normally while taking it. Finasteride also won’t affect your ability to drive, cycle, or use machinery, and there are no foods or drinks you need to avoid. As always, if your own clinician has given you specific advice for your situation, follow that.
When to avoid finasteride
Finasteride isn’t right for everyone. Don’t take it if you are a woman, if it’s for a child, or if you’re allergic to finasteride or any of the tablet’s ingredients.
Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant shouldn’t handle broken or crushed tablets, because the active ingredient can harm a developing baby.
And there are things a clinician needs to weigh up before prescribing, listed in the product information, so tell us during the consultation if any apply: depression or suicidal thoughts, sexual side effects on similar medicines, liver problems, any prostate or PSA testing, or use of other medicines in the same class. That is what the consultation is for: to check that finasteride is safe and suitable for you before it is prescribed.
What happens when you stop taking finasteride?
Finasteride only works while you’re taking it. If you stop, the DHT that drives male pattern hair loss returns to its usual level, and hair loss will usually resume over the following months. Exactly how fast varies from person to person, and any hair you regrew or held onto is gradually lost again.
If you’re thinking about stopping Finasteride and you’re not sure, speak to a clinician first. But if you develop mood changes or any suicidal thoughts, that’s different: stop taking it and seek medical advice straight away.
What if finasteride isn’t working?
First, give it time. You can only judge finasteride after several months of daily use, so check the basics before you decide it isn’t working. Are you taking it every day, at roughly the same time, without missing doses?
If you’ve done all that and there’s still no change, look again at the diagnosis, especially if your hair loss is sudden, patchy, or doesn’t fit the male pattern. A clinician can then talk you through the options: adding or switching to minoxidil, trying something else, or deciding no treatment is the right call for you. Don’t raise the dose, though. More finasteride doesn’t mean more regrowth.
Alternatives to finasteride
If finasteride isn’t right for you, there are other options. The main one is minoxidil, a treatment you apply to the scalp, and some men use it alongside finasteride rather than instead of it. Dutasteride works similarly to finasteride and is sometimes used instead; for hair loss, it’s prescribed off-label.
Beyond medicines, there are non-drug routes such as a hair transplant, scalp micropigmentation, or a wig. The right choice depends on the type of hair loss you have, your medical history, and what you’d prefer. A clinician can help you weigh them up.
Should I use finasteride with minoxidil?
Finasteride and minoxidil work in completely different ways, which is why some men use both. Finasteride lowers DHT to slow the loss. Minoxidil works at the scalp to support hair growth. Used together, they tackle the problem from two angles, and the combination has been shown to work better than either one alone. Whether it’s right for you is a question for your clinician. Ask during the consultation rather than combining treatments on your own.
Finasteride FAQs
What is finasteride?
Finasteride is a medication that inhibits the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. As a result, this medication prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for male pattern hair loss. However, it is important to note that the effects of finasteride on the scalp will only last as long as the medication is taken. Therefore, when the medication is discontinued, hair loss may resume. Additionally, finasteride is available in the form of 1mg tablets.
How do I take finasteride?
The suggested dose for Finasteride is one 1mg tablet per day, which can be taken with or without food. Additionally, it usually takes three to six months of daily treatment to observe any evidence of hair loss stabilisation. For continued effectiveness, it is recommended to use the medication continuously. Consequently, if treatment is discontinued, the positive effects will start to reverse within six months and return to their original state between 9 to 12 months.
How do hair loss tablets work?
Finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia, is a medication used to treat hair loss in men. Interestingly, you can purchase cheaper generic finasteride compared to branded Propecia. The medication works by decreasing the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a byproduct produced by the hair follicle. When there is too much DHT, the hair follicle shrinks and causes hair to grow thinner and shed more quickly.
Eventually, this leads to a much smaller hair follicle and a thin hair that does not grow out to the skin surface. However, finasteride prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which slows the progression and allows for regrowth. It’s important to note that the treatment is only available for men and can also minimize and resolve hair thinning.
Side effects of hair loss tablets
To begin with, Finasteride and Propecia are generally well tolerated. However, we do not recommend finasteride to men who are hypersensitive to finasteride or who have severe liver disease.
Moreover, common side effects of finasteride include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculation disorder. It is worth noting that sexual dysfunction tends to occur during the first year of treatment and decreases with the duration of treatments. It is usually resolved when treatment is discontinued.
Additionally, mood alterations have been reported and patients should stop taking the medication if feeling depressed or if they develop any suicidal ideation. It is important to speak to a clinician immediately if you experience a lump in your chest or breast. For full side effects, please refer to the patient information leaflet.
Finally, on rare occasions, seek medical attention if you experience depression, breast enlargement, tenderness, lumps, or nipple discharge, pain in the testicles. You may also refer to more advice from the MHRA regarding potential risk of male breast cancer.
When should I start hair loss treatment?
According to available data, it appears that younger men who have been balding for a shorter period and have smaller areas of baldness may respond to treatment sooner. Nonetheless, it is important to note that there is no firm evidence to support this claim, as responses to treatment can vary significantly from person to person.
How long does it take for finasteride to work?
Stabilization of hair loss can be expected following continuous use of Finasteride for 3-6 months. By the end of the year you should notice clear signs of hair regrowth. You will notice peak hair growth after 2 years, but treatment must be continued to maintain results. The beneficial effects begin to reverse by 6 months and return to before taking medication by 9-12 months.
Why you should not take hair loss treatments?
Hair loss may occur due to an underlying cause. Patients should visit the GP if they suffer from the following as treatment of the underlying cause normally allow hair to regrow:
- Any profound shedding or rapid onset of hair loss
- Absent or reduced eyebrows or eyelashes
- Inflammation, papules or pustules, scaling or scarring of the scalp
- Severe infection, iron deficiency or hypothyroidism
- Some medication such as antidepressants or anticoagulants
- Change in diet or rapid weight loss
- Patients who are planning to father a child should consider to stop treatment.
Where can I get hair loss treatment from?
Regaine (Minoxidil) is readily available over the counter from pharmacies.
Finasteride is a prescription only medicine and can only be prescribed by a clinician. Unfortunately, all hair loss treatments are not available to prescribe from the NHS and therefore GPs will charge for a private consultation and a prescription. You will also pay for the medication from a pharmacy. However The Family Chemist clinician can prescribe both Finasteride (Propecia) and Regaine free of charge and only charge for the medicines and have it delivered to you in 24 hours.
More treatments available
References
- Use of Finasteride in the Treatment of Men With Androgenetic Alopecia (Kaufman/Shapiro), Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings (1999) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Long-term (5-year) multinational experience with finasteride 1mg (Van Neste et al.), European Journal of Dermatology (2002) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Finasteride — pharmacology, mechanism and indications (Agrawal & Bhatt), StatPearls, NCBI / NIH (2024) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Finasteride: reminder of the risk of psychiatric side effects, MHRA / GOV.UK (April 2024) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Finasteride and dutasteride — updated safety warnings for psychiatric side effects and sexual dysfunction, MHRA / GOV.UK (May 2026) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Finasteride: medicines information, NHS (2024) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Side effects of finasteride, NHS (2023) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- S3 evidence-based guideline for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (Blumeyer et al.), Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft (2011) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Update on the provision of finasteride, General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) (2024) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Summary of Product Characteristics — finasteride 1mg, electronic medicines compendium (emc) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
- Combined finasteride and topical minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia: a randomised trial (Hu et al.), Journal of Dermatology (2015) [Accessed 16 July 2026]
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