Finasteride 1mg is approved by the FDA to treat the most common kind of hair loss in men. It's generally safe but it can also cause serious side effects, including but not limited to allergic reaction, breast cancer, sexual dysfunction, and high-grade prostate cancer.
Most patients find that their problems with sexual function resolve when they stop taking the medicine. But a minority of patients find that their problems with sexual function persist for an average of 40 months after stopping the medicine. Your risk increases the older you are.
Women of childbearing age shouldn’t take finasteride or touch broken tablets, as finasteride can cause birth defects.
Read the package insert that comes with the medicine for a full list of side effects and warnings.
Alternative Treatment Options
There’s an alternative treatment called minoxidil (Rogaine) that’s available over-the-counter. Minoxidil is not as effective as finasteride. Minoxidil has a lower risk of serious side effects relative to finasteride.
For a complete list of alternative treatment options please refer to our FAQs