What happens when you stop taking Finasteride

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Finasteride (a generic version of Propecia) is a common prescription medication used to treat hair loss (androgenic alopecia) and enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) in males. It works by blocking a specific enzyme called 5-alpha reductase from turning testosterone, a male hormone, into a more potent form called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is linked to hair loss and prostate enlargement. Many patients taking Finasteride tablets daily may wonder what will happen when they decide to quit using this drug after months or years of treatment.

The effects of stopping Finasteride depend partly on how long it stays in the body system based on factors like dosage and the person's health condition. On average, the drug has a half-life of 5 to 6 hours. This means the levels of Finasteride get reduced by half within 5-6 hours after the last dose.

Let's explore how long Finasteride stays in your body and what to expect when quitting treatment.

Key Findings:

Finasteride has a half-life of 5-6 hours. The treatment stops working when you quit the treatment and the levels of DHT (the hormone responsible for hair loss) get to the pre-Finasteride baseline within 2 weeks after your last dose.
Stopping Finasteride may lead to the resumption of hair loss, typically within a few months.
It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional before discontinuing the medication.

How long does Finasteride stay in your system?

As mentioned earlier, 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 the bloodstream to decrease by 50%. So, most of the medicine is cleared from the system within 24 hours after the final dose.

However, Finasteride takes longer to stop working completely because it prevents the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase from converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It can take up to 12 months for the hair loss to return in full, which will undo the hair growth progress you've made while taking Finasteride. Clinical studies show that the level of DHT gets back to the pre-Finasteride norm within 14 days. So, if you're quitting the treatment because of potential side effects, you should notice positive changes during that time frame. However, you need to keep in mind that there are some patients who experience side effects for months after stopping the Finasteride treatment - we call this Post Finasteride Syndrome.

The timeline varies for each individual based on their health, dosage taken, and how well they respond to the drug.

Does Finasteride stop working if you stop taking it?

Yes, Finasteride stops working to block DHT and preserve hair follicles when someone stops the treatment for hair loss. This is because Finasteride has an elimination half-life of just 5-6 hours.

This means that 5-6 hours after taking the last Finasteride dose, only 50% of it is still present and active in the body. Then, another 5-6 hours later, just 25% remains.

Once all the Finasteride leaves the body through metabolism and excretion, it no longer provides any protective effects against DHT, causing miniaturisation of hair follicles. As a person's DHT levels climb back to baseline, which usually takes up to 2 weeks since your last dose, hair shedding can resume.

So in summary - while Finasteride quickly stops working when the hair loss treatment is halted, the visible hair growth benefits may take months to reverse.

Do Finasteride side effects stop when you quit the medication?

For most men, common side effects experienced while taking Finasteride tablets tend to go away after they cease treatment. These issues are typically tied to changes in hormone levels or tissue function caused by the drug. But while the recovery from side effects is typically the case, the duration and severity of side effects can vary. Some patients may experience quicker resolution, while others might have more prolonged symptoms.

Common reactions like sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction, low libido) and breast tenderness or swelling often resolve within weeks to months of quitting the medication. However, some patients report sexual side effects persisting for even 6 months or more as hormones recalibrate.

Though rare, a small number of men develop Post Finasteride Syndrome, which are severe reactions to Finasteride treatment that continue posing problems years after stopping. However, it remains a somewhat controversial and not fully understood condition within the medical community. The prevalence and exact cause of this syndrome are still subjects of ongoing research and debate.

Still, for the majority of patients, most adverse effects fade reasonably quickly once the body readjusts to normal Finasteride-free function. Even so, carefully monitoring symptoms when transitioning off this hormonal drug is advised in case intervention is required. Consulting a physician promptly can help manage persisting issues.

How to safely stop taking Finasteride

Since Finasteride changes hormone levels, doctors recommend slowly stopping the medication under their guidance for a smoother transition. In fact, NHS recommends that you should talk to your doctor before making any changes to your daily dose of Finasteride or discontinuing the treatment altogether.

Continued monitoring of hair health is also recommended when coming off long-term Finasteride treatment. Using techniques like regular scalp photography allows patients to closely track for sudden increased shedding activity and catch renewed progression of male pattern baldness promptly if it occurs months later.

Staying in consistent contact with your doctor enables things like blood work to ensure hormones normally rebalance post-Finasteride and prescriptions for any distressing symptoms that develop coming off the drug. Doctors can also refer patients to alternative hair loss treatments if appropriate while managing safe withdrawal. This level of clinical support is designed to make the transition off daily Finasteride tablets as gentle as possible for your body, keeping your comfort and positive outcomes at the heart of the process.

Alternatives and supplementary treatments

Once Finasteride treatment is stopped for pattern baldness, considering alternative and added therapies helps maintain the increase in hair growth and thickness. Options to discuss with doctors include:

Oral medications - For partial responders to Finasteride, switching to Dutasteride (Avodart) tablets or adding topical Minoxidil (a generic version of Regaine) alongside microneedling can further slow the shrinking of your hair follicles and excessive shedding after quitting.
Hair transplants - Patients who achieved their target results from Finasteride medication can undergo hair transplantation for a permanent solution.
Compounded topical treatments - Exploring topical Finasteride serums, platelet-rich plasma injections, or low-level laser regimens may provide complementary hair support when transitioning off oral tablets.

Working closely with specialists to review medical history helps identify and tailor supplementary or replacement treatments for the patient's unique needs upon stopping Finasteride therapy. This personalised approach improves the continuity of benefits for improved hair growth and thickness.

Start your journey with Oxford Online Pharmacy

At Oxford Online Pharmacy, we recognise the difficult decisions that male pattern baldness patients face regarding changes in their Finasteride treatment regimen. Whether continuing the tablets or exploring alternatives like Minoxidil, our medical team prioritises in-depth support.

Our thorough consultation process and evidence-based approach ensure substitute hair regrowth protocols align with your medical needs, expectations, possible drug interactions and Finasteride response history. We also facilitate discreet delivery of customised topical treatments, additional oral medications, and speciality nutrient supplements if prescribed.

Start your personalised support journey today to discuss your Finasteride or male pattern baldness solutions, including transitioning approaches.

Contact Oxford Online Pharmacy to find out more. Our discretion and patient-first care empower your hair health.

FAQs

How long do Finasteride results last after you quit taking it?

Finasteride's biological effects can persist for months before reversing - though diminishing over time. Within 12 months off the tablets, most men revert to their prior extent of male pattern balding without alternative medication or procedures.

Is it OK to go a few days without taking my regular Finasteride dose?

Missing a single 1 mg Finasteride dose occasionally is normally fine. But consistently maintaining daily levels is ideal to keep blocking DHT’s hair follicle damaging effects maximally. Prolonged lapses allow hormones/enzymes to fluctuate, potentially initiating miniaturisation and shedding again.

Does Finasteride build up in your body if I take it daily?

No, research shows Finasteride does not accumulate in the body with daily long-term use at recommended doses for pattern hair loss. It has a relatively short 5-6 hour half-life and gets fully cleared within 5 days. What builds up over 3-6+ months of consistent use are the beneficial effects from Finasteride, in terms of lowered DHT levels, stabilised enzyme function, and healthier, thicker-looking hair. Patients should discuss appropriate cessation protocols with healthcare providers whenever discontinuing treatment.