Finasteride tablets

Finasteride is hair loss medication used to treat male pattern baldness by slowing or stopping hair thinning on the scalp. At higher doses, it’s also prescribed for an enlarged prostate.

The most evidence-based finasteride dosage for hair loss is 1mg per day. Higher doses don’t appear to improve hair results and may increase the risk of side effects.

There's no "best" time of day. Morning or evening is fine, and you can take it with or without food. What matters most is taking it consistently, around the same time each day.

Yes. Finasteride 1mg is typically prescribed to be taken once daily. This is how it's been studied in clinical trials and shown to be most effective for hair loss. However, your clinician may adjust your dosing schedule based on your individual needs. Always take finasteride exactly as prescribed.

Propecia and finasteride are actually the same medication. Finasteride is the active ingredient, while Propecia is the brand name.

No. Finasteride is a prescription-only medicine in the UK, so you can't buy it over the counter. You'll need a medical assessment to ensure it's right for you. This can be done online through regulated services like Voy, where a UK-registered clinician reviews your answers before prescribing.

Finasteride for hair loss isn't usually available on the NHS, so it’s unlikely to be prescribed by your GP. The NHS does prescribe finasteride at a higher dose (5mg) for enlarged prostate, but not typically for hair loss.

Most people access finasteride for hair loss privately through regulated online clinics like Voy, which provide a private prescription after an assessment. Take our quick quiz today to see if our science-backed hair loss plans are a good fit for you.

Finasteride for hair loss isn't usually available on the NHS, so most people access it privately. The price varies depending on the provider and your subscription plan.

At Voy, finasteride starts from £13 per month on a 6-month plan, with flexible monthly, 3-month, and 6-month options available.

Yes. Finasteride is proven to promote hair regrowth. In one study of over 3,000 men, 87% showed improvement in their hair growth after taking finasteride. Results vary between individuals, with regrowth most noticeable at the crown.

No, dandruff isn't a common side effect of finasteride. If you're experiencing scalp issues while taking finasteride, speak with your clinician.

No, side effects are typically not permanent. They usually either improve during continued use or resolve completely after stopping the medication.

While persistent side effects after stopping treatment (sometimes called post-finasteride syndrome) have been reported, this is rare.

If you're concerned about side effects, speak with your clinician about your options, including dose adjustment.

Finasteride is generally considered safe and has been widely used for decades. Like all medications, it has potential side effects, so it’s important to weigh benefits and risks with a healthcare professional.

If you're experiencing side effects, speak with your clinician first. They may suggest adjusting your dose, continuing treatment as some side effects improve over time, or switching to topical finasteride (applied to the scalp), which may have fewer side effects though it's unlicensed in the UK.

Always take finasteride exactly as prescribed and never adjust your dose without medical advice. Our clinical team is available 7 days a week if you have concerns.

Increased shedding typically starts within the first 2-3 months of treatment. This is temporary and usually a positive sign: it means old hairs are being pushed out to make way for new, healthier growth.

The shedding typically settles within a few weeks. If shedding continues beyond this or you're concerned, speak with your clinician.

Finasteride doesn't lower testosterone. It blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT (the hormone responsible for hair loss).

While some individual studies have reported small increases in testosterone, a comprehensive review of the evidence found that finasteride is not associated with consistent or significant increases in testosterone levels. Your testosterone levels remain within the normal healthy range during treatment.

What matters for hair loss is that finasteride reduces DHT levels by around 70%, which is what helps prevent further hair loss and allows regrowth.

Finasteride has a short half-life of around 5 to 6 hours in the body. This means it takes about 5 to 6 hours for the levels of the drug in your bloodstream to decrease by 50%. Most of the medicine is out of your system within 24 hours after your final dose.

But finasteride’s effects on DHT last longer. DHT levels usually return to normal within a few weeks after stopping.

Erectile dysfunction is a possible side effect, but it only affects a small percentage of users. In clinical trials involving over 3,200 men, ED occurred in 1.3% of men taking finasteride compared to 0.7% taking placebo.

Many men take finasteride without any sexual side effects. For those who do experience them, side effects often resolve after stopping treatment, and some find they improve whilst continuing. If you experience erectile dysfunction whilst taking finasteride, reach out to our clinical team.

There is limited evidence that finasteride may temporarily affect sperm count in some men. Studies show that sperm counts typically improve after stopping treatment, often returning to normal levels.

Most men take finasteride without any impact on fertility. If you're actively trying to conceive or have concerns about fertility, reach out to our clinical team to discuss your options.

Both reduce DHT, but dutasteride blocks more forms of the enzyme and lowers DHT more strongly. Studies show dutasteride drives greater increases in total hair count and scalp coverage than finasteride. Even topical dutasteride (0.05%) outperformed finasteride 1mg at treating male pattern baldness in a 2025 clinical study.

However, dutasteride is not licensed for hair loss in the UK and is used off-label. Read our article on dutasteride vs finasteride for more info.