Finasteride 1mg Tablets

Buy finasteride 1mg online in the UK for hair loss

Buy finasteride 1mg for hair loss from our UK registered pharmacy by completing a short online consultation. Your order will be shipped in plain and discrete packaging. 

What is finasteride?

Finasteride 1mg is a prescription-only hair loss drug which is taken every day to treat male pattern baldness. It is also sold under the brand name Propecia, commonly referred to as  “generic Propecia”.

Generic finasteride is a low-cost alternative to Propecia. It contains the same active ingredient, available at a lower price.

What is finasteride used for?

Finasteride 1mg is used to treat androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male pattern baldness. It is also used after certain hair transplants, to prevent hair loss after a procedure.

It is also used in a higher strength to treat an enlarged prostate.

How does finasteride work?

Finasteride 1mg works to decrease levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a natural male hormone that shrinks hair follicles causing hair thinning and hair loss.

DHT is produced when an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone to DHT.

Finasteride blocks the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, stopping the conversion of testosterone to DHT. A reduction in DHT levels results in less damage to hair follicles. This results in a reduced amount of hair loss and in some cases even hair regrowth.

To find out more, take a look at our  ‘Does Finasteride Work?’ guide.

Finasteride dosage

For hair loss, take one tablet daily, preferably around the same time each day. 

Tablets can be taken with or without food. Finasteride tablets should be swallowed whole, rather than being crushed or broken. 

You should not stop treatment before consulting your doctor or pharmacist. It can take up to 12 months to see the benefit from the treatment. 

Medication should be kept out of sight and reach of children, away from direct light and heat, and stored in a cool and dry place For more information, please read the patient information leaflet. 

How long does finasteride take to work for hair loss?

Finasteride starts working on the scalp almost immediately, but it can take 3-4 months before you notice any results. Treating hair loss is a slow process that requires persistence and patience. 

Finasteride results timeline

Below, we have summarised the expected results in a timeline format. For more information, take a look at our ‘Finasteride Results Timeline’ guide:

1-3 months

It is unlikely that you will notice any positive changes to your hair after 1-3 months. Finasteride tablets are already working to lower the levels of DHT and are starting to work on hair follicles. You may notice “hair shedding”, where you start to lose hair at a faster rate than you did before starting your course. This is because finasteride 1mg causes weaker hairs to fall out mid-cycle and regrow stronger and thicker. It is a good sign that treatment is working. 

3-6 months

You should start to see a decline in hair loss. Some men start to notice regrowth of hair during this time.

6-9 months

You should notice a positive change in the appearance of your hair. Most men experience a halt in hair loss, with many men also experiencing hair regrowth. Men with receding hairlines may also start to see an improvement. This is usually noticeable around the 6-9 month mark.

9-12 months

After 9 to 12 months, you should see a noticeable reduction in hair loss, and in many cases, an overall improvement in hair growth. Hair often appears thicker and fuller after one year and you should continue to take treatment if you are not experiencing any side effects. 

Treatment does not lose its effectiveness, as it simply reduces the level of DHT, the hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles. Your body is not able to develop resistance to finasteride and the effects will only wear off if you stop treatment.

If you do not notice any positive results after one year of use, you should stop treatment and speak to your doctor or pharmacist about possible alternatives.

It is important to note that not all men experience hair growth. In these cases, treatment may work to prevent further hair loss. Stopping treatment can cause positive results to disappear and you will resume the natural balding process.

What happens when you stop taking finasteride tablets?

Finasteride 1mg can only help to prevent hair loss when the drug is active in the body. This is due to finasteride's mechanism of action – the drug blocks the enzyme which is responsible for producing DHT, the hormone that causes hair loss. 

If finasteride treatment is stopped, the body will restart the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Hair follicles will react as they did previously, causing hair to thin and shed. You should take tablets continuously for as long as you wish to see results.

Important note: Finasteride has a short half-life and does not stay in your system for very long. Most of the drug will be out of your system within seven days. For treatment to work long term, you should take a tablet daily without discontinuing treatment.  

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take a tablet as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time of your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Continue to take your tablets every day as normal. Do not take more than one finasteride tablet daily. It is unlikely that missing a dose occasionally will have a negative impact on the outcome of treatment. 

However, finasteride does not stay in your system for long and several missed doses can slowly begin to cause a rise in the level of DHT (the hormone dihydrotestosterone that shrinks hair follicles). This can reverse any positive results you have experienced.

Tip: You can set a reminder on your phone to help you remember to take your tablets every day.

Is finasteride safe?

Finasteride 1mg is generally a safe and well-tolerated drug. Clinical studies examining men taking finasteride 1mg concluded that side effects were uncommon, and most men experienced no side effects.

A clinical study conducted over a one-year period in over 3,000 men, found that only 1.7% of men discontinued treatment as a result of side effects, compared to 2.1% of men who discontinued taking a placebo pill as a result of side effects. 

It was reported that 1.8% of men reported a decrease in sex drive, compared to the 1.3% who were taking the placebo pill. 1.3% of men reported difficulties in achieving an erection, compared to the 0.7% who reported this effect that were taking the placebo.

0.8% of subjects taking finasteride reported a reduced volume of semen produced compared to the 0.4% who experienced this that were taking the placebo.

After the fifth year of treatment, the number of patients reporting the above side effects fell to below 0.3%. This indicates that if you are one of the few individuals that is experiencing side-effects, they are likely to disappear after continued use. It is important to note that side-effects are reversible and resolve once finasteride has been stopped.

Finasteride side effects

Finasteride 1mg is usually well tolerated by most men. Side effects are rare; however, they are still possible. These side effects affect less than 10% of users.

The most common side effect is sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction, loss of libido and ejaculation disorders.  

Other side effects reported have included breast pain and enlarged breasts (gynecomastia), reported in less than 1% of users.

Finasteride warnings

You should not take finasteride 1mg tablets if you:

• Are under the age of 18
• Have an allergy to tablets or any of the ingredients in the tablet
• Have a kidney, bladder or liver problem
• Are trying for a baby or your partner is pregnant

Important note: You should always check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure that treatment is safe for you to take.

Can I drink alcohol?

It is safe to drink alcohol with finasteride, as long as you drink in moderation. In fact, studies show, finasteride could help to reduce alcohol intake due to a possible interference with hormones that are linked to alcohol consumption.

It was reported that two thirds of men taking finasteride regularly, found that they consumed less alcohol. 

Does finasteride cause depression?

Reports have shown that there is a small link between depression and finasteride. Unfortunately, it is a potential side effect of finasteride as there have been rare cases of the condition being associated with the medication. If you do feel depressed or in an unusually low mood, you should stop treatment immediately and consult your doctor. 

Propecia vs finasteride

There is no difference in clinical effectiveness between Propecia and finasteride tablets. In fact, the term "generic Propecia", or "generic finasteride", is often used to describe finasteride 1 mg. 

Propecia is the branded version and finasteride is the unbranded version. One is not better than the other as they both contain finasteride 1mg and are medically the same. 
Any differences between the two will be in the inactive ingredients, such as the components that bind tablets together.

Will finasteride help to regrow and thicken my hair?

Finasteride 1mg is proven to stop the natural balding process and, in some cases, regrow hair. It helps hair to grow back thicker, and the result is a fuller head of hair. Finasteride reviews suggest that it is extremely effective, with most users experiencing hair thickening and regrowth. 

Can women use finasteride 1mg tablets for hair loss?

Finasteride 1mg is not licensed to treat hair loss in women and is only suitable to treat male pattern baldness. It has been shown to be somewhat effective in treating female hair loss. However, DHT which shrinks hair follicles in males, is a by-product of testosterone. As women have less testosterone, the response to treatment is not as positive as it is in males. Finasteride can be harmful to women and disrupt hormone balance. It is also harmful for pregnant women as it can result in birth defects.

Will finasteride help me if I am completely bald?

It will not work for those who are completely bald. It will only work on areas of the scalp that have some hair growth.

Can you get finasteride on the NHS?

It is not available to treat hair loss on the NHS. It is only available privately.

What is Accord finasteride?

Accord finasteride is simply finasteride manufactured by the company Accord Healthcare UK. There is no difference in the way that the Accord brand tablets work in comparison to other generic finasteride brands. Accord was one of the first manufacturers of generic finasteride. Other manufacturers include Mylan, Milpharm and Relonchem. 

Can you buy finasteride online?

You can buy finasteride online after completing an online consultation, which is assessed by a pharmacist. If it is safe for you to take, we will dispatch your order using an express courier.