Propecia

Propecia is a hair loss treatment for male pattern baldness. It can’t be used to treat hair loss for other reasons, such as stress. Propecia tablets are a branded treatment containing the active ingredient finasteride, which can also be found in generic form. It can help to prevent further hair loss and encourages the growth of new hair, which may reverse balding.

Propecia is suitable for men with mild to moderate hair loss and isn’t suitable if you have complete hair loss. You can only get Propecia or generic Propecia with a prescription. You can also get topical Propecia which is applied directly to the scalp.

The active ingredient finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, which stops testosterone from changing to another hormone in the body called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

DHT decreases the amount of hair growth on your head and causes hair to thin. So, taking Propecia (finasteride) lowers the DHT levels in your scalp and blood, which:

• prevents further hair loss
• stops balding
• increases the growth of new hair

How long does it take for Propecia to work?

It usually takes 3 to 6 months for Propecia to work. For some men, it can take up to a year. You should speak to your doctor if you haven’t seen improvements by this time.

Propecia does work for the majority of men who take it. According to a clinical study, over 80% of men reported that their hair loss stopped within 6-12 months of taking Propecia. 66% of these men also reported hair regrowth.

Propecia works best if you take your tablets every day, without missing regular doses. Taking Propecia won't affect hair on other parts of your body.

What are the signs that Propecia is working?

The signs that Propecia is working include:

• a slowing down or complete stopping of hair loss
• thicker hair
• possible hair regrowth, although this doesn’t happen for everybody

If you want to see how well Propecia is working, take a picture of your hair every month. This way, you can see improvements on different parts of your head, such as the crown. These results may be subtle at first.

What happens if I stop taking Propecia?

Propecia will keep working for as long as you take it and is safe to take for a long time. Your hair will go back to how it was before taking Propecia around 6 to 12 months after stopping treatment.

Propecia only comes in 1 dose: Propecia 1mg. This means each tablet contains 1mg of finasteride.

How to take Propecia

You should take 1 tablet a day, for as long as you need it or as long as your doctor tells you to. You can take Propecia with or without food and with a drink of water. It doesn’t matter what time you take it, as long as you take it every day.

If you are late taking a dose of Propecia, take it as soon as you realise, on the same day. If you miss a day or more of Propecia, continue with your next dose as usual. Missing doses may mean it takes longer for Propecia to work.

Do not take a double dose of Propecia to make up for a missed dose. Taking more than you should will not make Propecia more effective or work quicker.

You can request Propecia treatment online from regulated prescribing services, such as Asda Online Doctor. To get started, all you need to do is complete a 5-minute questionnaire about your health. A doctor will check if Propecia is suitable for you. If it is, your Propecia tablets can be delivered to your door in discreet packaging, or you can collect them from an Asda Pharmacy.

If you need further help and advice on taking Propecia or on male pattern hair loss, you can message our doctors for free through your patient account.

Propecia can sometimes cause side effects, like all medications, but how often this happens is different for each person. Some side effects are temporary and will go away with continued treatment, or stop when treatment is stopped.

You should stop taking Propecia straight away and speak to your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects:

• symptoms of an allergic reaction – a severe allergic reaction is an emergency and you should call 999 or go to the nearest A&E if you have facial or throat swelling, breathing difficulties, or lumps under your skin (hives)
• depression
• changes in your breast tissue, such as nipple discharge, lumps, pain, or enlargement

Uncommon side effects of Propecia include:

• erectile dysfunction
• a reduced desire to have sex
• ejaculation problems, such as a decrease in semen released

Some other side effects of Propecia have been reported, but how often these happen is unknown:

• suicidal thoughts
• anxiety
• male infertility and/or poor-quality semen
• blood in semen
• testicular pain
• changes in the way your liver works, which is shown in blood tests
• palpitations (fast heartbeat)
• breast tenderness or swelling

If you are experiencing any serious side effects, or side effects that are not going away or are affecting your life, speak to your doctor straight away.

Some side effects may also persist after discontinuing treatment, including:

• ejaculation problems, such as premature ejaculation
• decrease in sex drive
• erectile dysfunction

Let your doctor know straight away if you develop any of these symptoms.

Important information on Propecia side effects

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has released a new report on the risk of potential persistent sexual dysfunction (such as erectile dysfunction) and the risk of psychiatric side effects when taking medications containing finasteride.

Before taking Propecia, please speak to your doctor if:

• you have a personal history of suicidal thoughts or depression
• you’ve ever experienced problems with sexual function, such as the inability to get an erection or a decrease in sex drive

Stop taking finasteride straight away if you get suicidal thoughts or depression and speak to a doctor or healthcare professional as soon as possible.

You may not notice changes in your behaviour straight away, so it’s important to let the people close to you know you’re taking finasteride and that it can have an effect on your mental health. Friends and family may notice mood changes before you. If you or anyone around you identifies symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts, get help from your doctor straight away.

You shouldn’t take Propecia if you’re:

• a woman
• under 18
• allergic to any ingredient in the tablets
• already taking finasteride or dutasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia – also let your doctor know if you take other medications

Talk to your doctor if you’re due to have a blood test for prostate cancer called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Taking Propecia can affect the results of this test, so you may need to delay treatment.

Propecia contains lactose, so may be unsuitable if you’re lactose intolerant.

Does Propecia work for women?

Clinical trials have proven that Propecia doesn’t work for women, as they can’t have male pattern hair loss caused by an overproduction of DHT. Not only will it not work, it’s likely to cause side effects. If you’re a woman, it’s important to speak to a doctor and find a hair loss treatment for women instead.

It’s unsafe for pregnant women to take finasteride as it can cause birth defects. Pregnant women or women trying for a baby should not touch crushed or broken Propecia tablets, as it could affect the baby’s sex organs.

Propecia isn’t the only male pattern hair loss treatment available. Below we look at other treatments containing finasteride, as well as Regaine, which is a topical hair loss treatment that may be used alongside finasteride.

Propecia vs finasteride

Finasteride is a generic (unbranded) version of Propecia. The main difference between Propecia and finasteride is that one is sold under a brand name and the other isn’t. Generic finasteride may be produced by a different manufacturer, so the non-active ingredients could differ.

Generic versions are generally cheaper too. They both work in exactly the same way and only come in 1mg tablets, taken at the same daily dose.

Propecia vs Regaine

Regaine for Men is a topical male pattern baldness treatment that doesn’t require a prescription. The active ingredient in Regaine is minoxidil, which can prevent further hair loss and cause hair regrowth. It does this by improving blood flow in your scalp and hair follicles. Regaine can be found in different forms, such as a foam or solution, but it will always be applied to your scalp. There’s also a version for women called ‘Regaine for Women’.

Propecia and Regaine for Men both treat male pattern hair loss but work in different ways. You can take Propecia and use Regaine at the same time, but check with your doctor first. Clinical trials have found that the combination of the 2 treatments for male pattern baldness can significantly improve the look of hair, with fewer patients noticing a deterioration or no change in hair loss.

Propecia vs Minoxidil

Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Regaine, but it can also be found as an unbranded treatment. Minoxidil can prevent further hair loss and cause hair regrowth for men diagnosed with male pattern hair loss. Minoxidil can be bought in many forms, such as a solution, spray, or serum applied directly to the scalp, or as a tablet (oral minoxidil).

Minoxidil is an over-the-counter treatment, so you don’t need a prescription to get it. Topical and oral minoxidil can be taken with Propecia as a combination hair loss treatment, as long as you’ve checked with your doctor that it’s safe for you.

Propecia vs Proscar

Proscar is a branded treatment containing the active ingredient finasteride but it’s only used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients with an enlarged prostate. Proscar contains 5mg of finasteride while Propecia is only available in 1mg doses. You can’t be prescribed Proscar for male pattern hair loss but you can get Propecia instead.