Is Finasteride Worth the Side Effects? Hair Loss Talk

Is the male hair loss treatment pill worth the risk?

Hair loss in men is common. In fact, it's probably a lot more common than you might think. Over 65% of men experience some form of hair loss by the age of 45, and that figure goes up to 80% by the age of 60.  

There are many types and causes of hair loss, but the most common type is androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), which is genetic, and tends to develop gradually.  

Without a cure for hair loss, the situation looks even more bleak. However, despite there not being a cure, hair loss can be treated, to a certain extent. 

There are only two medically approved treatments for hair loss; the topical solution, minoxidil (Regaine/Rogaine), and the oral pill, finasteride, which is most commonly branded as Propecia. Both can be effective treatments for hair loss, however, they can also give negative side-effects. 

In this article, we look at how finasteride can help treat hair loss in men, and what potential negative side-effects can be experienced from taking the drug. 

What is finasteride? 

Finasteride is an oral pill that is formulated to block the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT, thus reducing DHT (the cause of hair loss). By lowering DHT you can treat androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness).

As with many medical treatments, there is a long list of potential side effects that you can get from using finasteride. The most worrying side-effects are impotence and decreased libido, with more than 1 in 10 men experiencing long-term erectile dysfunction, which is actually a very high number.  

Other common side effects from using finasteride include; ejaculation disorder, breast tenderness, breast swelling, feminisation, skin rash, headaches, dizziness, and depression.

It should also be noted that finasteride is not 100% effective. Many men have still gone bald while taking the drug. A best case scenario would be a slowing down of the hair fall. 

Is finasteride worth the risk? 

Having gone through the potential side effects from using finasteride, it is easy to see why so many men prefer to avoid using the treatment. Losing your hair is one thing, but losing your ability to function, both physically and mentally, seems like a high price to pay for keeping your hair. 

It really depends on how badly a man wants to keep his hair. Some men are willing to take finasteride, despite knowing the risks, whereas other men would prefer to seek safer alternatives. 

The question you should always ask yourself is; does its effectiveness outweigh its risks? In this case, probably not. Finasteride does work, to a point, but it will not work miracles, as it is not a cure for hair loss in men.  

Finasteride can slow down the rate of hair fall, and even stop it for a certain period of time. Some men experience some regrowth of hair, but in most cases, the drug's effectiveness is quite limited. In reality, finasteride is a drug that just delays the inevitable. 

How to get finasteride

Finasteride is usually prescribed by a doctor. The patient takes one pill a day, which is an ongoing treatment. Once you commit to finasteride, you have to use it forever. Once you stop taking it, your results will stop, and you'll start losing hair again. 

Finasteride is also available to purchase online, after an online assessment with a medical professional. Services like Manual, Hims, Sons, Numan, and Freshman offer the drug, as well as minoxidil, as part of their hair loss treatment packages.  

However, caution is advised, because these sorts of companies tend to play down the risks of finasteride. They label themselves as 'men's health' brands, which is actually inaccurate, because finasteride is a medical drug, and NOT a health product for men. 

Should you take finasteride? 

Hair loss can be pretty demoralising, and it's definitely something that many men would prefer to tackle, head-on, however, with such harsh side-effects, it is always worth trying safer alternatives. 

Although finasteride is the only medically approved pill to treat hair loss, that doesn't mean there are not other ways to treat the issue. In fact, there are some great alternatives for tackling baldness, the most common one being multivitamin supplements. 

Multivitamin hair supplements are packed with antiandrogens and DHT blocking additives that work in conjunction with hair growth promoters, to help prevent excess hair shedding, and support the function of healthy hair growth.  

From taking multivitamin hair supplements, you can realistically expect less hair fall and more hair growth. What's more, multivitamin supplements are free from any major negative side effects, which means you won't ever have to compromise on your health and wellbeing. 

If you suffer from early stages of male pattern baldness, then a good multivitamin hair supplement is definitely a safe and effective hair loss treatment alternative to finasteride.