Can You Get Finasteride on the NHS?

The National Health Service (NHS) is a publicly funded healthcare system in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It provides free medical care for all UK residents. However, there are certain drugs that are not prescribed on the NHS and must be purchased privately meaning you will need to pay the full cost of the medicine. Finasteride 1mg (Propecia) is one of these drugs.

Although Finasteride is recommended as an effective hair loss treatment, the 1mg dosage is not available through the NHS as male pattern baldness is considered to be a cosmetic issue. Finasteride is only available in the 5mg dose as it used to treat an enlarged prostate (benign prostate enlargement). If you are looking to take finasteride to treat hair loss, you will need to purchase it privately.

You can do so by booking an appointment with a private hair loss clinic, or by obtaining it from an online pharmacy. In both cases, you will be required to go through a consultation process for a healthcare professional to review, to ensure that the medication is suitable for you to take.

Male pattern baldness is not considered to be a medical condition which can cause a deterioration in health if left untreated. It is also seen to be a condition which falls under the category of an aesthetic treatment. Although it can cause mental distress amongst men, there is no direct correlation between a decline in mental wellbeing, as a result of hair loss.

A private face-to-face consultation is likely to cost around £100. A private prescription is likely to cost around £20-£30 a month from a clinic.

Online pharmacy prices tend to be cheaper, with prices usually starting at approximately £15 per month for the 1mg dose.

No. Finasteride is a prescription-only medicine. A GP or medical professional must confirm that the medication is suitable for you before treatment begins. Buying Finasteride from an unlicensed supplier can put your health at risk.

If you are considering finasteride as a treatment for hair loss, there are several options to choose from. Hair transplant clinics often prescribe Finasteride as part of their treatment regimen to enhance the results of a recent transplant. Additionally, finasteride can be obtained from reputable online pharmacies like Chemist Click which often provide the ease of home delivery and online consultation services to ensure suitability and safety. For those who prefer a face-to-face consultation, many high street pharmacies can also provide immediate advice and support.

When choosing where to obtain Finasteride, ensure that the provider is properly licensed and that the product is genuine and appropriately sourced.

Like all medicines, Finasteride can cause side effects although not everyone will experience them. Common side effects associated with finasteride include:

• Erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting an erection, decreased sex drive, problems with ejaculation, such as producing little or no semen)
• Anxiety, depression or general low mood

If you are concerned about side effects, you can seek help from the NHS.

It is important to speak to your doctor or a healthcare specialist immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Breast lumps, nipple discharge, or chest changes
• Swelling of the lips and face
• Rash
• Itching
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Dizziness

When you stop taking finasteride, any unwanted effects should disappear within one to two weeks. This is because the medication has a short half-life and leaves the body quickly. This also means that any hair growth you have seen as a result of treatment will be reversed as finasteride is not a permanent cure.

Post-Finasteride syndrome (PFS),  is a condition characterised by Finasteride side effects continuing after someone stops taking the drug. You can learn more about the signs of PFS here.

Choose a Reputable, Licensed Supplier

Ensure you are obtaining treatment from a reputable source. If you are going through a hair clinic, make sure you check that the organisation is registered with the CQC (Care quality commission). If you are obtaining hair loss treatments from an online pharmacy, check to see that the pharmacy is registered with the GPhC (Genera Pharmaceutical Council). These credentials should be easy to find.

Read the Product Information Leaflet

This outlines all of the information you need to know, including dosage, side effects, interactions with other drugs, who shouldn’t use treatment, and other important warnings.

Let Your GP Know That You Are Taking Finasteride

If you have prostate problems, or you are at a high risk of developing prostate problems, it is vital that you let your GP know that you are taking finasteride tablets. This is because finasteride lowers PSA levels. The PSA test is a blood test used to help detect prostate cancer. Finasteride lowers these levels, and this will need to be taken into consideration if you need to have these levels checked.