What is Finasteride and what is it used for?

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Lots of people wonder - what is Finasteride and what are Finasteride uses?

Finasteride is a prescription medication often used to treat two health conditions. The first condition is androgenetic alopecia, also called male pattern baldness. This is when men gradually lose hair on their heads over time. Finasteride prevents hair from getting thinner by stopping hair roots (follicles) from shrinking. This allows the hair to grow back thicker.

The second condition is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also referred to as enlarged prostate. This happens when the prostate gland grows bigger with age. The enlarged gland can squeeze the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body) and cause issues with fully emptying the bladder. Finasteride helps shrink the prostate to prevent these urination problems.

Finasteride works by interacting with hormones in the body called androgens, specifically testosterone. It stops a particular body chemical (enzyme) from working, which otherwise leads to hair loss and prostate enlargement. By regulating this enzyme, Finasteride treats these conditions.

Understanding the answers can be hard when there's conflicting or complex information out there. Knowing exactly what a medication is used for empowers you to make informed decisions with your healthcare provider.

Let's explore Finasteride's uses and how this prescription medicine could help you.

Key Takeaways:

Finasteride treats male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) and enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) by blocking the hormone that is causing these issues.
It stops hair follicles from shrinking to boost regrowth and slows prostate overgrowth to alleviate urinary problems.
Creating a routine, tracking doses, partnering with one’s doctor and asking questions ensures optimal Finasteride use.
Some decline treatment, worried over side effects like sexual dysfunction or wanting to avoid medications long-term and look for alternative options.

What is Finasteride?

Finasteride is a prescription medication used to treat certain health conditions in men. It comes in the form of a tablet that is taken by mouth. The brands of Finasteride tablets are called Proscar (5mg) and Propecia (1mg).

Specifically, Finasteride works by blocking an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme normally turns the hormone testosterone into a more potent chemical called DHT. When the action of this enzyme is stopped, levels of DHT go down in the body.

Lowering DHT levels is the key to how Finasteride treats male pattern baldness and enlarged prostates. Too much DHT causes hair follicles to shrink, leading to thinning hair and eventual bald spots over time. It also triggers prostate cells to multiply faster, resulting in an enlarged prostate gland. By keeping DHT levels in check, Finasteride is able to prevent further hair loss and shrink prostate size.

Doctors often prescribe Finasteride to treat two common male conditions: androgenetic alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Androgenetic alopecia is the medical name for male pattern baldness. It's caused by having too much DHT, which miniaturises hair follicles over time.

Benign prostatic enlargement means an enlarged prostate, which can cause problems with urination. An overgrown prostate is triggered by excess DHT as well.

By keeping DHT levels down, Finasteride is able to counteract hair loss and prostate growth effectively. It treats the underlying hormonal imbalance contributing to both issues.

Using Finasteride for Hair Loss

Finasteride is commonly prescribed at the 1 mg dosage of Finasteride to treat male pattern baldness, also known medically as androgenetic alopecia. This type of hair loss is triggered by having too much DHT around the hair follicles on the scalp. DHT causes the follicles to shrink over time, resulting in thinning hair and eventual bald spots.

Research shows that Finasteride helps about 80% of men grow their hair back when used for male pattern baldness. So, the odds are usually in favour of improved hair growth.

How does Finasteride accomplish this? It works by preventing the hormone testosterone from being converted into DHT around the hair follicles. This lowers DHT to ideal levels so follicles can function normally again. Finasteride protects hairs from further miniaturisation by keeping DHT in check.

In clinical trials, daily use of Finasteride led to noticeable hair regrowth and an increase in hair count over 3-6 months for most men. Areas of moderate to dense regrowth are common when the hair loss treatment is maintained over the long term. Progress tends to peak around one year, but continued daily use is necessary to sustain results.

By blocking excess DHT, Finasteride helps stimulate thicker, healthier hairs in balding spots. It counteracts the hormonal process, causing follicles to shrink so that regrowth can occur. While not a quick fix, Finasteride has proven successful in gradually reversing male pattern baldness for most patients.

Using Finasteride for prostate health

The 5 mg dose of Finasteride is commonly used to treat prostate gland enlargement, medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This condition causes uncomfortable urinary symptoms that worsen over time if left untreated.

BPH happens when prostate cells multiply faster than normal due to high levels of the hormone DHT. DHT over stimulates prostate growth, causing it to get bigger. As more cells pile up, they press on the urethra - the tube carrying pee from the bladder out of the body. This added pressure makes urination difficult.

Finasteride stops the conversion of testosterone around the prostate, helping reduce its size back to normal. Multiple research studies confirm that Finasteride reduces prostate volume by around 18% on average after 6-12 months of daily treatment.

As their prostates shrink, most men see improvement in BPH urinary symptoms like:

Reduced urine flow
Straining to urinate
More frequent trips to the bathroom, especially at night

So, by controlling DHT, Finasteride can reverse prostate growth and provide relief from associated urinary problems for the majority of patients.

There's some evidence that Finasteride might help in the prevention of prostate cancer (its low-grade form). On the other hand, it might increase your risk of high-grade prostate cancer (a more serious form of prostate cancer). However, more research is needed to be sure.

Oxford Online Pharmacy only prescribes Finasteride for hair loss. See your doctor to discuss prostate health.

Everyday tips for using Finasteride

Making Finasteride part of your routine

Successfully adding a new daily medication like Finasteride to your routine involves a few strategies:

Pair dosing with existing habits – Link taking the tablet with routine activities like a daily walk or nightly brushing to help remember consistent dosing.
Use phone prompts and calendars – Scheduling alerts and physically checking off doses on posted calendars builds self-tracking skills critical for adherence.
Recognise gradual timelines – Understand visible hair regrowth and prostate changes develop slowly, depending on the individual, as growth cycles are slower.
Never skip random days – We know life gets busy, but try your best not to miss doses. Missing doses can make Finasteride less effective. If you find you're forgetting often, talk to your doctor for advice on how to stay on track.
Watch for reactions – Stay alert to how you're feeling, and don't hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider for medical advice and medical attention if you notice side effects of Finasteride tablets, such as erectile dysfunction or breast tenderness. It's important to discuss any concerns as soon as you notice them.

Setting up a steady, uninterrupted Finasteride dosing routine aided by reminders, dose logs, and transparent doctor communication sustains treatment continuity for achieving prostate and hair loss relief.

Partnering With Your Healthcare Provider

Maintaining open, recurring communication with your prescribing healthcare professional ensures safe, customised Finasteride treatment:
Check all ingredients – Make sure you're not allergic to anything, and look for other non-active ingredients added to Finasteride. Compare brands if concerned.
Check interactions – Share all current prescription and over-the-counter regimens you take to determine suitable Finasteride dosing or any risky drug combinations requiring monitoring through bloodwork.
Track symptoms or reactions – Honestly log any developing sexual dysfunction like decreased sex drive, breast tenderness or skin reactions and speak to your prescriber.
Get assessments done – Follow up regularly for possible blood tests, checking hormone (testosterone, DHT) levels, prostate size, or hair density counts to gauge positive response trajectories.

Working collaboratively with your healthcare provider determines appropriate Finasteride use based on your medical history, monitors progress through relevant clinical evaluations and ensures adjustments if adverse reactions arise.

Start your journey with Oxford Online Pharmacy

Pursuing treatment for hair loss shows commitment to self-care. The caring team at Oxford Online Pharmacy supports taking this proactive step towards relief. Our fully registered UK online pharmacy simplifies safe access to medications like Finasteride.

Follow our convenient 3-step process to explore customised Finasteride treatment:

Complete a comprehensive consultation: Share your health history and condition challenges through an online review form. Our GMC-registered doctors study your case to ensure treatment aligns with your needs.
Select your preferred treatment. Our physicians may alternatively recommend supplements to avoid risks or drug interactions with your current medications list.
Receive discreet home delivery: Your order arrives quickly at your chosen address. We handle shipping logistics while preserving privacy.

Please reach out to our team if you have any additional questions. We are ready to help you take the first step and provide support at each part of this vital health journey.

FAQs

What are the benefits of taking Finasteride?

The main benefits of Finasteride tablets are counteracting the effects leading to androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement). It works as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, meaning it interrupts the hormone pathway, causing hair follicle miniaturisation (your hair follicles get smaller) and gradual prostate overgrowth. This allows for regrowing and maintaining hair while preventing urinary dysfunction from increasing prostate size.

What was Finasteride originally used for?

Originally, Finasteride was approved to treat enlarged prostate causing urinary problems. Several years later, it also gained approval for treating hair loss after showing good results for growing hair. So, its two primary uses today were added over time through scientific studies.

Is Finasteride a high-risk medication?

When taken as prescribed, Finasteride is generally safe, with a low-risk profile for most men. But as with any medication, adverse effects are possible. That's why openly communicating with your prescribing doctor is very important to monitor your response.

Why do men not take Finasteride?

Common reasons for declining or discontinuing Finasteride treatment include worries over potential sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction or decreased libido, lacking proof the 5-alpha reductase inhibiting tablets will effectively halt hair loss progression for their androgenetic alopecia degree, not wanting long-term medication reliance, or being unable to commit to daily dosing needed for optimal gradual hair regrowth. Discussing hesitations openly with one’s doctor often eases decision-making.