• How safe is finasteride?

Hello, good afternoon. I am 19 years old and am experiencing male pattern baldness. I have heard about finasteride. I have read stories about the potential side effects such as ED, low libido, etc. I want to ask how rare are these side effects from your experience and what are your thoughts on the drug regarding hair loss.

3 Answers

  • Dermatologist
  • Camp Lejeune, NC

This is a complex question and likely depends on dosing and previous history or issues with ED. Overall, it is a good medication for hair loss. I typically recommend folks try topical minoxidil and or topical finasteride for 6 months unless they aren’t too concerned about the possible ED issue. If the topical doesn’t help stop loss, then we have a further discussion
about oral tabs. Multiple types including finasteride. I recommend you touch base with a board certified dermatologist.
Hope that helps.

  • Dermatologist
  • Boston, MA

Finasteride is effective at improving hair loss. Side effects you mention are not common and disappear upon stopping the drug if they do occur.

  • Dermatologist
  • Pottsville, PA

Great question and one which is still unanswered. That said, several recent articles link finasteride to depression, so many clinicians are prescribing dutasteride instead. 

Stephen Schleicher, MD

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