Finasteride: Dosage, Uses & side effects for hair Loss

Dr. Aman Dua | August, 5 2022 | 0 Comments

What is Finasteride?

Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, mostly used in the management of male pattern hair loss and stimulation of re-growth of hair in men. It is also indicated for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate.
Finasteride is commonly sold under brand names as “Proscar” (for benign prostatic hyperplasia) and “Propecia” (for male pattern hair loss).

Why Finasteride should be used?

- Hair loss occurs when testosterone gets converted into DHT and binds to an androgen receptor which led to hair fall.

So, to reduce hair fall, a DHT blocker like finasteride is necessary which will stop this conversion and can prevent hair fall.

How DHT causes hair fall?

Hair growth mainly starts from the cells present at the base of hair shaft known as dermal papilla.
These cells divide and proliferate to form new hair follicles.
Dermal papilla cells carry all the essential nutrients required for the hair growth along with androgen (hormone).
When hair follicles exposed to DHT, hair growth retards and disrupted resulting in hair miniaturization and hair loss.

How Finasteride works and helps to reduce hair fall?

Finasteride is a specific inhibitor of type II 5 alpha reductase, an enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
It regulates the production of dihydrotestosterone.
Finasteride acts on the binding site of DHT and stops the transmission of DHT to further hair follicles.
DHT causes the shrinkage of hair follicles and shortens the growing phase.
By lowering the DHT levels, finasteride reverses the harmful effects on hair follicles and stimulates re-growth of hair.
Finasteride can decrease DHT concentrations in the serum and scalp up to 60-70% approximately.

How finasteride is different from natural DHT blockers?

Finasteride is approved by FDA for the treatment of hair loss.
Studies have shown that finasteride decreases serum DHT levels approximately by 71% while natural DHT blockers like saw palmetto decreases such by approximately 32%.
Finasteride can act both on the front area and on the vertex to reduce hair fall while saw palmetto prevalently in vertex.

Finasteride for female pattern hair loss

It is believed that women with hyperandrogenism might be more likely to benefit from finasteride treatment. Finasteride 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg daily, effectively promotes scalp hair growth.

Finasteride is indicated for androgenetic alopecia in males. It stabilizes the male pattern hair loss in the males aged from 18-41 year old.

It is classified in the FDA pregnancy category. Women should not even touch this medicine in pregnancy

Hypersensitivity
Use in children or adolescents
Use in pregnancy
Lactation

There are no significant any drug interactions with clinically important which have been demonstrated with finasteride.

Active ingredient: Finasteride.

Inactive ingredients include:

Lactose monohydrate
Microcrystalline cellulose
Pregelatinized starch
Sodium starch glycolate
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Titanium dioxide
Magnesium stearate, talc
Docusate sodium
Yellow ferric oxide and red ferric oxide

Mostly used Brands of Finasteride and price

Brand Name	Company	Formulation	M.R.P
PROPECIA	Merck	Finasteride (1mg)	Rs. 955.13/ 28 Tabs
FINAST	Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd	Finasteride (5mg)	Rs. 528/ 30 Tabs
FINAST	Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd	Finasteride (1mg)	Rs. 178/ 30 Tabs
FINPECIA	Cipla Ltd	Finasteride (1mg)	Rs. 91/ 15 Tabs
FINCAR	Cipla Ltd	Finasteride (5mg)	Rs. 147/ 10 Tabs

Medical uses of Finasteride

Finasteride is used to treat

Male pattern hair loss
Overall risk of prostate cancer
Alone or in combination with other drug to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy
Acute urinary retention

Off label uses include

Hirsutism (excessive facial and/or body hair growth)
Hormone Replacement therapy

Topical Finasteride

Oral Finasteride has been known to associate with side effects such as erectile dysfunction, low libido due to decreased levels of DHT in blood.
A topical formulation of finasteride has been formulated along with minoxidil. Minoxidil helps finasteride in better absorption due to its vasodilator property.
A clinical trial has shown that 1mg of topical finasteride controls more DHT levels in scalp than oral finasteride. Meanwhile, both topical and oral administrations decrease almost similar DHT level in serum. But study also suggests that if you get a side effect from oral finasteride, most likely you will get a side effect from topical finasteride also.

Finasteride Form

DHT level change in the
scalp (decreased by)

DHT level change in
serum (decreased by)

1 mg topical finasteride	Once a day (q.d) (N=6)
1 mg topical finasteride	Twice a day (b.i.d)(each time is 0.5mg) (N=6)
Finasteride	Once a day

71%

69.3–74.0%

47%

67.6–80.4%

51%

69.7–76.1%

oral pill

(N=6)

Adverse effects of Finasteride

Post finasteride syndrome (PFS) usually occurs in patients taking finasteride. This symptom complex can be physical, sexual, as well as neurological. It is also known as 5 alpha reductase inhibitor syndrome. Few men may also complain of side effect such as ‘brain fog’ or cognitive impairment. This is the most discussed concept and still no clinical data is published.
Studies have shown that finasteride may be involved in altering the immune system of the body against carcinoma cells or cancer in aging men.
As finasteride inhibits the DHT, ratio of estrogen to androgen alters which can increase the risk of gynecomastia and male breast cancer.

Finasteride is a synthetically derived 4-azasteroid reductase. It is a specific inhibitor of steroid type II DHT, testosterone to 5 carboxamide. Its structural formula is;

Generic name of finasteride for the treatment of hair loss is Propecia which was originally developed and manufactured by Merck Pharmaceuticals.
P. Roy Vagelos (Merck’s basic research chief) in 1975 was intrigued by the perception of decreased levels of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) which led to the development of smaller prostates and increased hair growth. Dr. Vagelos then created a drug which could treat or mimic the condition.
Finasteride (1mg) was approved by FDA in 1997 under the brand name Propecia which was marketed by Merck.

Finasteride is a white crystalline powder and freely soluble in chloroform, alcoholic solvents but is insoluble in water.
Many scientific research or clinical studies have been conducted on Finasteride and various physical or chemical data have been collected which is as follows:

Clinical data	Legal status	Pharmacokinetic data	Chemical & physical data
Trade names – Propecia, Proscar	UK: POM (Prescription only)	Bioavailability – 63%	Formula C23H36N2O2
Pregnancy category – X (will cause birth defects)	US: ℞-only	Metabolism – Liver	Molar mass 372.549 g/mol
Routes of administration – By mouth		Biological half-life- Adults: 6 hours Elderly: 8 hours
ATC code – G04CB01 D11AX10		Excretion – Feces (57%) and urine (39%) as metabolites	Rs. 91/ 15 Tabs
FINCAR	Cipla Ltd	Finasteride (5mg)	Rs. 147/ 10 Tabs

ATC= Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification system

Frequently Asked Questions about Finasteride

Is Finasteride a steroid?

No, Finasteride is not a steroid. It is a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor which inhibits DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which causes hair fall.

Can Proscar be used for Hair fall?

No, Proscar is indicated for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (a condition in which prostate gland surrounding urethra gets bigger) in men. Recommended dosage is 5mg orally once a day.

What is the difference between Finasteride, Proscar and Propecia?

Propecia and Proscar are the brand names while finasteride is the active ingredient in both.

What is 5AR and how it is related to finasteride?

5AR is 5 alpha reducatse and DHT is produced by it in two isoenzymes known as Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is more prominent in scalp than Type 2. Finasteride inhibits Type 2 5AR and approximately reduces 2/3rd of DHT levels.

Does Propecia work in older men?

Few studies have been reported which showed that approximately 39% of patients were improved. However, results were not as dramatic as the patients of aged 18-41 years old, but still were quite effective.

Is topical finasteride as effective as Finasteride tablets?

FDA approved finasteride as oral pill of 1mg to be taken once a day. A topical formulation of finasteride including minoxidil has been approved and has been found to be as effective as oral finasteride.

How finasteride be used?

Finasteride pills are available which can be taken orally with or without meal.

What is the recommended dosage of Finasteride?

Recommended dosage of finasteride (1mg) is one tablet once a day. With daily use for one year or longer, hair loss can be prevented and re-growth of hair can be assessed. During first months, shedding or thinning of hair may still exist but new healthy hair will grow after it. Continuation of finasteride is recommended.

What if a dose is missed?

If you missed a dose just skip the dose missed and use only the prescribed next dose. Do not use a double dose to make up for the missed doses.

What is the dose response of finasteride?

In a clinical study, 249 men with androgenetic alopecia underwent for scalp biopsies for the determination the effect of different doses of finasteride administered daily up to 42 days, on scalp skin and serum androgens.

What are the possible side effects of finasteride?

The most common side effects of Finasteride are: • Genitourinary:
• Erectile dysfunction
• Loss of libido
• Impotence
• Low Blood pressure or hypertension
• Depression, drowsiness
• Difficulty in breathing
• Fatigue, weakness, headache

What precautions should be taken while using Finasteride or before using it?

1. Men are at risk of developing obstructive uropathy. So consult with your doctor before taking.
2. Do not use finasteride if you are allergic to finasteride or any other inactive ingredient present in finasteride tablet.
3. Finasteride can be absorbed through the skin. Women who are pregnant should avoid contact with crushed or broken tablets.
4. Avoid contact with semen from a male partner who is exposed to finasteride as it can retard fetal growth.

About Author & Bibliography

Bibliography

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2. Mysore V. Finasteride and sexual side effects. Indian Dermatol Online J [serial online] 2012 [cited 2017 Aug 10]; 3:62-5. Available from: http://www.idoj.in/text.asp?2012/3/1/62/93496

3. Angela B Smith and Culley C Carson. Finasteride in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a review. Therapeutics and clinical risk management. 2009; 5(e.g. 2): 535–545. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2710385/

4. Izabela Urysiak-Czubatka .Assessment of the usefulness of dihydrotestosterone in the diagnostics of patients with androgenetic alopecia. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014 Aug; 31(4): 207–215. [Internet]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4171668/

5. Rossi A (2012). Comparitive effectiveness of finasteride vs Serenoa repens in male androgenetic alopecia: a two-year study. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. Oct-Dec; 25(4):1167-73.

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7. Drake L (1999). The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. Oct; 41(4):550-4.

8. Anita K. Gupta (2016). Atypical post-finasteride syndrome: A pharmacological riddle. Indian J Pharmacol. May-Jun; 48(3): 316–317.

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12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finasteride

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14. https://www.steroidal.com/anti-estrogens-pct/finasteride-proscar/

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16. https://perfecthairhealth.com/natural-dht-blockers-vs-finasteride-they-all-cause-sexual-side-effects/

17. https://www.mims.com/india/drug/info/finasteride

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19. http://www.rxlist.com/propecia-drug.htm

20. https://www.bernsteinmedical.com/medical-treatment/propecia-finasteride/

NOTE: This content of this post is written by the experienced dermotologist based on formal medical studies. It is reliable and scientifically verified and reviewed and edited by concerned doctors and health professionals to provide objective information on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. If you are a doctor or health scientist and find inaccuracies, errors or omissions, please contact us at [email protected]

About Author: This post is written by Dr. Aman Dua, MBBS, MD, FISHRS having 14 year of experience in the fields of Dermatology and Hair Transplant. She is the Chief Dermatologist, Co-Founder & Managing Director At AK Clinics.

Reviewed by: This post is reviewed by Dr Kapil Dua, MBBS, MS, Dipl. American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS), Member, FUE Advancement Committee, ISHRS, USA to improve readability and authority of the written content.

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Dr. Aman Dua

Dr. Aman Dua, Co-Founder & Managing Director at AK Clinics has over 14 years of clinical and teaching experience in the fields of Dermatology and Hair Transplant. Clinically, she has practiced aesthetic dermatology as a Consultant at Dayanand Medical Hospital, Ludhiana where she also served as the Assistant Professor & Skin Specialist for a number of years.

Over the course of her career, she has garnered acclaim as a facial aesthetics expert, with special interest in non-surgical acne scar removal. She practices as a Chief Dermatologist at Ludhiana Clinics.

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