Is Finasteride effective? How common are the side effects?

Question

Is finasteride effective? I'm afraid to start Topical Finasteride due to side effects. Are they that common?

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. Topical Finasteride can be very effective with little side effects. That being said, it really depends on your body as to how effective it will be. My best advice to you is to see a reputable doctor who can assess your situation and offer a plan forward that is best suited for you. Best of luck to you.

Dr. T

Dr. T

Edward Hsu, MD · Answer

Thank you for the excellent question. Finasteride is very effective. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, Propecia or generic finasteride slows hair loss in 88% of men. It stimulates regrowth in about 66% of men as well. 
Finasteride can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took finasteride in clinical trials: ejaculation problems, breast tenderness, rash, decreased libido* (sex drive), and erectile dysfunction. A 2017 study of 3177 men showed a 0.7% incidence of side effects while the hair growth continued to improve with negligible problems.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

There are thousands upon thousands of topical finasteride formulations. As you can imagine, few have been studied. But one formulation had no difference in the frequency of side effects compared to placebo. It was much safer than oral finasteride with lower risk of changing libido or causing erectile dysfunction. Here I am talking about the study “Efficacy and safety of topical finasteride spray solution for male androgenetic alopecia: a phase III, randomized, controlled clinical trial”
by Dr B M Piraccini and her colleagues. But that’s just one formula. The other 9000 formulas have not been studied well so one would pretty much just be guessing. Overall, safety seems reasonably high. Be sure to speak with your doctor about this and other studies and the side effects of oral finasteride to watch for and your practitioner’s experience with getting topical finasteride made by local compounding pharmacies.

Is Finasteride effective? How common are the side effects?

Answers (3)

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