Finasteride 1mg Tablets

What Is Finasteride and How Does It Work?

Finasteride is a prescription-only medication used for treating male baldness and is available via the Quick Meds website. As a prescription only treatment, you will be required to complete an online questionnaire. This is assessed by a prescriber who will assess your suitability for the medication.

Containing the active ingredient finasteride 1mg, the tablets are widely available from various manufacturers as different generic versions. Whilst the packaging may be slightly different, they will all contain finasteride and will work in the same way. It is also available as the brand Propecia.

Finasteride 1mg tablets are licensed and prescribed for male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. A higher dose 5mg of finasteride can be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Finasteride helps reduce further hair loss by addressing underlying hormonal mechanisms that cause male pattern baldness. It can also promote hair regrowth, especially at the crown and hairline where male pattern baldness typically begins.

Finasteride is used to slow hair loss and promote hair regrowth but must be used continuously for maximum benefit. The tablets must only be taken by men with male pattern baldness and not for use by women or children and adolescents.

Finasteride works by reducing levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) - the hormone responsible for hair loss. High DHT levels can shrink hair follicles and shorten the hair growth cycle - leading to hair thinning and hair falling out faster.

Finasteride inhibits an enzyme in the body known as 5-alpha reductase. 5 alpha-reductase converts testosterone (another male sex hormone) into DHT - resulting in high levels of DHT which causes androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride belongs to a group of medicines called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. By inhibiting this enzyme, circulating levels of DHT decrease, serving a viable option to treat male pattern baldness.

Finasteride Results Timeline: What to Expect at 3, 6, and 12 Months

Finasteride works by lowering DHT levels in the scalp - the hormone primarily responsible for hair loss. Hair grows in long cycles and results of taking finasteride will appear gradually rather than immediately.

Month By Month Finasteride Timeline

Months 0-3: Hormonal changes begin

The suppression of DHT will start within a few days of beginning treatment but the cosmetic changes are not visible at this stage. Some men will experience increased shedding during the first three months but this is normal and usually indicates follicles shifting into a new growth cycle - this increased shedding does not mean the treatment is not working for you.

Months 3-6: Stabilisation phase

For many men, the shedding will slow down and hair loss will begin to stabilise. Though the improvements are subtle in this stage, there may be early thickening of existing hairs. This is the stage where individuals will start to notice that the hair loss is no longer progressing.

Months 6-12: Visible improvement stage

There will be noticeable gains in density of the hair at this stage; particularly mid-scalp and at the crown. The hair may also feel stronger, darker and more resilient. Daily use of treatment is very important as this will deliver consistent results.

Months 12-24: Peak results window

Finasteride peaks results at 12 to 24 months - this is when most men will notice maximum benefits. Finasteride halts hair loss in 90% of men and promotes regrowth in approximately 66% of men.

How successful the treatment is will depend on when the treatment begins. If finasteride is started in earlier stages of male pattern hair loss (lower on the Norwood scale), there will generally be better thickening and regrowth. Those that have more advanced hair loss will often see stabilisation rather than full reversal of the hair loss.

In summary, finasteride takes 3 to 6 months to show visible results, with most men seeing stabilisation in these months. Peak improvements in density and thickness usually occur between 12 and 24 months of consistent daily use.

Results Timeline Table

Period	What to Expect	Notes
0–3 months	DHT reduction begins. Possible shedding phase.	Shedding is normal — weaker hairs making way for new growth
3–6 months	Reduced shedding. Early thickening visible in some men.	First signs of stabilisation
6–12 months	Noticeable density improvement, especially at crown.	Most men see clear results by this stage
12–24 months	Peak results. Thicker, more resilient hair.	Continued use required to maintain
If stopped	Benefits reverse within 6–12 months.	Hair loss resumes as DHT levels return

Results can vary from individual to individual.

Finasteride Side Effects

Most men taking finasteride do not usually experience side effects.

Like all medicines, finasteride can cause side effects. These are usually mild in nature and improve with time.

Common side effects

• Finasteride may cause a decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory disorders. Clinical trials have shown these side effects to occur in less than 2% of men using treatment. These side effects often resolve once treatment has stopped and may even resolve during treatment.

Uncommon side effects

• Less common side effects could be signs of depression, changes in breast tissue and skin reactions. If you or someone close to you notice a change in your mood, you should speak to your doctor for further assessment.

Other side effects

The frequency of the following side effects is not known.

• Palpitations
• Male infertility
• Suicidal behaviors
• Testicular pain
• Blood in semen
• Anxiety

If any of these side effects occur, get in touch with your prescriber for further medical advice.

If you currently suffer from mental health issues, choosing an alternative treatment, such as minoxidil, may be beneficial.

Crushed or broken finasteride tablets should not be handled by females of child-bearing. These pose a risk to an unborn baby.

Post-finasteride syndrome is when there are persistent sexual, neurological, mental and physical side effects in patients who have used finasteride for hair loss. This has been reported by a small number of males who have used this treatment. It is important to remember that post-finasteride syndrome is very rare.

Finasteride vs Minoxidil vs Dutasteride

There is more than one option available to treat hair loss and deciding between them can be difficult if you’re not certain about how they work. Here is a quick summary to help you make that decision.

Finasteride works by reducing and blocking the scalp DHT production and addresses the root hormonal trigger of male pattern hair loss. Due to the way it works, it usually is one of the first options for hair loss in the UK.

Minoxidil works on the follicles locally rather than hormonally and by improving blood flow to the follicles.

It helps to maintain hair in the growth phase for longer which can improve the density and thickness.

Dutasteride is similar to finasteride but is more potent. Dutasteride blocks type 1 and type 2 5-alpha reductase and is usually associated with a higher risk of side effects.

Using both finasteride and minoxidil together produces superior results rather than using finasteride alone, as monotherapy. The combination of these is considered the most effective non-surgical treatment approach.

Comparison Table

Feature	Finasteride	Minoxidil	Dutasteride	Topical Finasteride
Type	Oral tablet	Topical solution/foam	Oral capsule	Topical spray/solution
Mechanism	Blocks DHT (5AR type 2)	Improves follicle blood flow	Blocks DHT (5AR types 1+2)	Blocks DHT locally
Results timeline	3–12 months	2–6 months	3–12 months	6–12 months
Side effects	Sexual (1–2%)	Scalp irritation	Sexual (higher rate)	Lower systemic risk
Prescription	Yes	No (OTC)	Yes (off-label)	Private clinics only
Best for	Hormonal hair loss cause	Stimulating regrowth	Non-responders to finasteride	Side effect concerns

How to Take Finasteride

Simple and clear. Emphasise consistency. Warn against crushing tablets. Note that 5mg is for prostate, not hair loss.

Finasteride is taken as a single 1mg tablet once daily, with or without food. Finasteride 5mg is taken for the prostate.

It is important to adhere to the prescribed dosage. A higher dose of finasteride will not lead to faster results but can increase the risk of adverse effects.

If you forget a dose, omit this and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take additional finasteride tablets to make up for a missed dose.

Consistency is crucial. Finasteride requires constant daily use and can take between 3-6 months before the effects can be seen. If you stop taking finasteride, the beneficial effects can reverse.

Finasteride must not be crushed or broken and females of childbearing potential should avoid handling crushed or broken tablets as they can cause harm to an unborn baby.

What Happens When You Stop Taking Finasteride?

Finasteride is an effective treatment whilst you continue to use it. However, it does not change the underlying cause of male pattern baldness and stopping finasteride reverses the benefits within 6 to 12 months.

Finasteride is not a cure for hair loss and most evidence shows that benefits begin to reverse within 6 months of stopping, with hair density typically returning to its pre-treatment level within 9 to 12 months. Once the medication levels decrease, the DHT levels will return to baseline allowing the miniaturization (progressive shrinking) of hair follicles to continue. Hair that was preserved or regrown during treatment will eventually be lost.

Finasteride is a maintenance treatment, rather than a cure and is usually prescribed long-term by many UK clinicians.

FAQs