Month: March 2014

I am on finasteride for 4 months. I think I suffer side effects. I would like to know how ‘real’ these side effects are, so actually ‘test’ the side effects.

Therefore, what if I stop for 2 weeks?
– would side effects go away in 2 weeks, so can I feel a difference in that time?
– would a stop of 2 weeks hurt my hair?

Reason for this: I just want to know what if side effects are psychologically or if they are ‘real’.

I suppose you could try it. To be thorough, I’d talk to your prescribing doctor before you make any changes to your medication.

In two weeks, I doubt that you will lose the benefit of taking the finasteride over the past 4 months. The side effects should be gone by then (I’m not sure which side effects your experienced or how quickly you saw them), unless there is some psychological reason for them to persist.

Hi doctor, I used oral finasteride for many years but never stop my MPB progress and give me hard side effects. So after stopping the drug, i started with topical finasteride and after 3 months it appears to me that there is regrowth and including the temples (a tough place to get results).

I believe that topical finasteride reduced much more topical DHT than oral, so that neither produces more sebum on the scalp. Why even prescribe oral finasteride giving serious side effects, if topical is much better?

In the United States, I am not aware of an FDA approved form of topical finasteride. If there was a topical form of this drug sold commercially, the FDA would have to review it for safety and effectiveness, which would likely take years before coming to market. Unless you’re buying a compounded topical lotion or shampoo from a licensed pharmacist, anyone today who is claiming to supply a topical finasteride is violating the FDA regulations and would be open to FDA sanctions or prosecution.

I don’t know what you’re using (brand or dosage), nor do I know of its safety or effectiveness. That said, the reason I prescribe oral finasteride as opposed to a topical is that the oral is a prescription drug that is available for sale in any pharmacy. I don’t know of any topical finasteride sold here. If you’re outside the US, the rules may be different… but I’m a US-based physician.

Hi Dr,

I have been taking 1.25mg of finasteride daily for about 5 years. My wife and I will be trying for a baby in the next year or so and I don’t want any chance of her coming into contact with finasteride powder while pregnant. For that reason I wish to switch from splitting a 5 mg pill to taking the 1 mg propecia tablet instead.

I have two questions:
1)Should I stop taking finasteride while trying to conceive?

2)Will reducing my daily finasteride dosage to 1 mg per day affect the management of my hair loss?

Many Thanks for your great blog.

Your first question is often asked of me (examples: here, here, here). There is no evidence that a man taking finasteride will produce an abnormal child as a result of taking the medication. I only know what I read and what the FDA publishes, so I can not advise you beyond that.

Your second question is an easier answer. There is essentially no difference between the 1mg Propecia pill and the 1/4 of a cut 5mg pill (1.25mg). The switch should be easy and seamless.