Finasteride is used to treat male-pattern hair loss, which is defined as a gradual thinning of the hair on the scalp, leading to a receding hairline or balding on the top of the head. Finasteride does not seem to help hair loss at the temples.

Finasteride is in the class of medications called type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. By blocking 5-alpha reductase, finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to another male hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Decreasing the circulating DHT hormone can block its effect on hair follicles — which starts with miniaturizing the hair follicle, causing them to shrink and hair to fall out.

Finasteride has the following potential side effects:

• Impotence
• Decreased sex drive
• Difficulty achieving an orgasm
• Abnormal ejaculation
• Swollen breast tissue
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Lightheadedness
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Skin rash

People who are pregnant or suspect that they might be pregnant should not take finasteride as it can harm a developing fetus. Anyone with a known hypersensitivity to finasteride or any of its ingredients should not take finasteride.

Tell your doctor about all your medical history and prescription use. Men with the following conditions may not be candidates for finasteride:

• Liver cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Bladder muscle problems
• Difficulty emptying the bladder

Heavy drinking while taking finasteride may increase its side effects.

In clinical trials that enrolled 945 men with male-pattern hair loss, approximately 1.3% experienced erectile dysfunction after taking finasteride for one year. In comparison, 0.7% of men taking a placebo experienced erectile dysfunction during the same period.

Finasteride can take up to three months to improve hair growth and decrease hair loss. If you don’t see results after using finasteride for a year, contact your healthcare provider. Finasteride will only slow hair loss while the medication is being taken. Any hair that grew back while taking finasteride will typically be lost within a year after stopping the medication.

Men who want to keep their hair will need to continue taking finasteride long-term. A study evaluating the use of finasteride over a 10-year period found:

• Only 6% of men had side effects. Some continued treatment because they liked their results.
• The results men saw after the first year of use were predictive of their long-term results.
• Men over age 30 had better treatment results than younger men.

In a controlled clinical trial:

• 66% of men saw hair regrowth at 12 months
• 80% of men saw hair regrowth at 24 months
• 48% of men saw hair regrowth at five years

No, finasteride does not lower your testosterone levels.

Finasteride is a 5α-reductase enzyme Type 2 reductase inhibitor that inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Finasteride causes a 60% to 93% reduction in DHT and a 15% to 25% increase in testosterone levels.

No, Invigor Medical employs doctors licensed in all 50 states, and a medical consultation is included with each medical service. Each patient will receive a valid prescription, which is sent to the pharmacy to be filled.

Once you have enrolled for medical services with Invigor Medical, it usually takes 7-14 business days before items arrive at your home. This process includes an online medical consultation, prescription approval, the medication getting filled at the pharmacy, and the medication being sent to your home.