“Finasteride Is Giving Me Side Effects — Should I Stop Taking It?”

Reader question:
I've been taking finasteride for hair loss and I've started noticing some side effects, particularly a lower sex drive and problems with erections. I know finasteride is supposed to be one of the most effective treatments for male hair loss, so I'm reluctant to give it up. Should I keep taking it and hope the side effects go away, or should I stop? Are there any alternatives?

Hair Loss Review Centre answers:

Finasteride can be an effective treatment for male pattern hair loss, but side effects are a recognised possibility and shouldn't simply be ignored.

Sexual side effects associated with finasteride can include reduced libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems. Not everybody experiences them, and some men use finasteride without any significant problems at all.

However, if you've developed symptoms since starting finasteride, it's sensible to discuss them with your GP, dermatologist or the healthcare professional who prescribed it.

Should you stop taking finasteride?

If the side effects are persistent or troubling, don't feel that you have to tolerate them simply for the sake of your hair.

Speak to your prescriber about what you're experiencing. They can advise you on whether stopping finasteride is appropriate and consider whether something else could be contributing to your symptoms.

This is particularly important if you're experiencing changes in mood, depression or other symptoms that concern you.

What happens to my hair if I stop finasteride?

This is the frustrating part.

Finasteride works only while you continue using it. If you stop treatment, its protective effect against male pattern hair loss will gradually be lost, and your underlying hair loss is likely to resume over time.

That doesn't mean, however, that your only choices are finasteride or doing nothing.

What are the alternatives to finasteride?

Depending on your circumstances, other approaches can include minoxidil, low-level laser therapy, appropriate scalp care and non-medical nutritional support.

For men who specifically want to move away from medication, HR23+® is one non-medical option worth considering.

HR23+ is a nutritional hair supplement rather than a drug. Its formula provides a combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanical extracts and other nutrients designed to support normal, healthy hair growth.

Importantly, HR23+ shouldn't be presented as a direct replacement for finasteride. The two products work very differently, and finasteride has a pharmaceutical mechanism of action that a nutritional supplement does not replicate.

However, for someone who has decided with appropriate medical guidance that finasteride is no longer right for them, HR23+ can form part of a non-medical approach to supporting their hair.

The bottom line

If you're getting persistent side effects from finasteride, don't simply suffer through them because you're frightened of losing your hair.

Speak to the healthcare professional who prescribed it and discuss whether you should stop or change treatment.

If you ultimately decide that finasteride isn't for you, there are other approaches available — including minoxidil and non-medical options such as HR23+®.

Keeping your hair is important. Your wider wellbeing is more important.

This article provides general information and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Finasteride is a medicine and any concerns about side effects or changes to treatment should be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.