Finasteride: Things to Know

No matter who you are or where you come from, we're sure that hair loss is something you do not want to experience. And while this issue may not be one that you can avoid altogether, its symptoms can definitely be reversed with proper care and medication.

Under dermatologist’s guidance. Finasteride is one of the prescribed treatment options available for hair loss today.

Finasteride is a prescription drug used to treat certain individuals with hair fall issues (mainly male pattern baldness).This medication works by blocking an enzyme that is responsible for converting the hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This results in increased levels of testosterone and decreased levels of dihydrotestosterone. By doing so, Finasteride reduces scalp concentrations of DHT and appears to interrupt a key factor in the development of male pattern baldness in men.

In some cases, the medication can also be used to treat men who suffer from an enlarged prostate.

Finasteride is available as a pill. It generally needs to be consumed once a day (at the same time every day) and can be taken just before or after your meal.

The best way to consume the pill is to swallow it whole with a drink of water.

Having said that, before starting your treatment, we suggest speaking to your dermatologist about the same and taking the medication as per their recommendation.

To ensure the best results, you will need to take finasteride at least once a day for several months. If you miss a dose, we urge you to do the following:

1. Take your medication within six hours from when you had to first consume it.
2. If you've missed the above-mentioned timeframe, skip that day's dosage completely and have the pill the next day as you would usually do.

Important note: Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dosage. If missed doses occur regularly, simply put an alarm on your phone to remind you of the same. That said, rest assured that finasteride is considered safe for its intended audience and is, therefore, unlikely to harm you if ingested in large quantities.

To ensure your tablets' usability and to prevent harm:

1. Keep them in their original container with the lid (cap) tightly closed.
2. Store the bottle in a dark area at room temperature.
3. Avoid placing them in the bathroom as the moisture could alter the viability of the medicine.

Apart from this, we also recommend keeping the medication in an area far out of the reach of children, pets, and pregnant women. If the medication is ingested mistakenly, it could have a negative impact on children, pets, and pregnant women.

If, for whatever reason, you need to throw your tablets away, do the same by placing them in your garbage can. Do not, under any circumstances, flush them down the toilet. We encourage you to ask for advice from your dermatologist or pharmacist before doing the needful.

In most cases, individuals experience minimal side effects when using this medication. That being said, if you do experience the following side effects and they persist for an extended period (two weeks or more), we recommend visiting your dermatologist:

1. Weakness or extreme tiredness
2. A lack of interest in sex
3. Ejaculation problems
4. The inability to get and maintain an erection

In today's day and age, hair loss isn't the be-all and end-all, and there are definite ways to reverse the symptoms of the same. Finasteride is one such method for treating Androgenetic Alopecia in males.

Disclaimer: Finasteride is a prescription-only drug. It is to be taken only after a dermatologist’s assessment and prescription. Please consult your dermatologist for further guidance.