“I take the oral tablet once a day, and it’s really helped with the thickness and texture of my hair”
Joe
The Finasteride Plan
BeforeAfter
“This is so good I’ve tried lots of other products but nothing works like this.”
Buy Finasteride Online
Generic propecia, 1mg tablets
37 ReviewsThe most effective oral treatment for receding hairlines and balding crowns. Just one pill a day.
Success stories
Join more than 30,000 happy customers who have used Manual
This has honestly revived my hair. I was going bald from the age of 19 and by 21 my hairline was completely gone. I’ve been taking this for 6 months and my hair line has grown back completely to how it was.
Alex. Trustpilot
AVAILABLE IN THESE PLANS
These are the most effective, proven treatments available in the UK
Dr. Earim Chaudry, Medical Director
How it works
Quick questionnaire
We’ll ask you a couple of quick medical questions. Tick the boxes and a clinician will review your answers and issue you a prescription.
Free fast delivery
Your selected treatments will be delivered for free in discreet packaging. There’ll be some helpful info included to make sure you get the best out of it.
Clinician support
Chat with a medical expert whenever you need. On the phone or via email. With support throughout your treatment.
Frequently asked
Why am I losing my hair?
Male pattern baldness (MPB), androgenetic alopecia, male pattern hair loss – call it what you will. If you have a receding hairline or balding crown, the single most common cause is your hormones. Specifically, that’s dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone your body converts from testosterone. DHT binds to your hair follicles and causes them to shrink, weaken, and stop producing hair. And that’s MPB in a nutshell.
How does Finasteride work?
Finasteride works by tackling the root source of DHT. An enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase (5AR) normally converts testosterone into this androgen that causes hair loss. But Finasteride blocks the activity of 5AR, meaning that much less DHT is produced. With less DHT in your system, your hair follicles are able to recover – and, as a result, they start producing thicker, stronger, healthier hair again.
Does it really reverse hair loss?
There are no better 5-alpha reductase inhibitors on the market for hair loss. Finasteride causes DHT levels to drop by 60%. Meanwhile, three 5-year Finasteride studies showed 9/10 participants saw their hair loss stop – and more than 3/4 experienced hair regrowth. So, yes, Finasteride does really reverse hair loss. It is an FDA-approved treatment for MPB, and it is used by thousands of men in the UK.
How long does it take to see results?
It typically takes 3-6 months before you see any changes, and at least 12 months before you notice significant hair growth. Finasteride works with the natural cycle of shedding and growth – and, unfortunately, these things just take time. Stay committed and take your daily dose – and you’ll see noticeably better hair within a year. When you use Finasteride, persistence and patience are key.
When should I start taking Finasteride?
When tackling MPB, the key is to start early. DHT, the hormone behind MPB, can cause your hair follicles to stop producing hair completely – and no medication can help once you’ve reached this stage. That’s why it is crucial to start treatment before you become completely bald – because at that stage there’s no guarantee that Finasteride will work. Catch MPB early and keep your hair for longer.
Popular Treatments
Testosterone
Testosterone Support
Maca and Ginseng
More infoMeet our medical team
Enabling the mission of revolutionising how men approach health, they are at the core of the men’s wellness platform. Meet our team.
Get a free consultation
Speak with one of our clinicians and get personalised advice. Monday to Friday 9am-4:30pm
Finasteride: Everything You Need to Know
Curated by Dr. Earim Chaudry, Manual Medical Director
Overview
Overview
How To
How to take Finasteride?
Exceptions
Who should not take Finasteride?
Side Effects
Finasteride side effects
Manual
Why choose Manual?
Resources
What else do I need to read?
What is Finasteride? You may have heard of the hair loss drug, Propecia. Finasteride is the unbranded active ingredient within this more famous pill. Propecia and Finasteride have the same effects. The only difference is that, with Propecia as with all brand names, you pay for the famous name.
Here are some of the key things you need to know about Finasteride – to ensure you take it safely and optimise your hair growth results.
How to take Finasteride?
Taking Finasteride is simple: take one Finasteride tablet per day. That means no fiddling around with hair solution or foam, as you might with an alternative medicine. You just pop a pill and go.
For hair loss, men use the 1mg daily Finasteride dose. While there’s a 5mg pill available (known as Proscar), medical advice warns against its use for MPB. The higher dose is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – and you run the risk of serious adverse effects if you use it improperly.
Finasteride can be taken with or without food. The key, though, is to take it at the same time every day. This ensures the drug works without interruption in your body – and it’s just easier to remember. If you do forget, you shouldn't take two pills to make up for a missed dose.
Importantly, don’t stop taking Finasteride, or normal levels of DHT production will restart and you will start to lose your hair again. Finasteride is not a permanent cure for MPB. But it can become an easy part of your routine, so seeing results doesn’t take too much effort.
For best long-term results, combine Finasteride with Minoxidil.
Who should not take Finasteride?
Finasteride, importantly, is not for everyone. And we wouldn’t be doing our job properly if we didn’t make sure that those who shouldn’t have it know that.
Women should never take Finasteride – and pregnant women or those planning pregnancy should never handle Finasteride tablets. Men planning pregnancy should stop taking Finasteride, too. You have traces of the drug in your semen, and while it is unlikely to pose any risk to an unborn baby, it is best avoided. Children (under the age of 18) should never take Finasteride.
You should not take Finasteride if you are already taking it for purposes such as treating prostate enlargement, or if you take any other 5α-Reductase inhibitor medications (such as Dutasteride). Similarly, you should not take Finasteride if:
- you suffer or have suffered from male breast cancer or prostate cancer
- you have had an allergic reaction to Finasteride or any other component in the medication
- you have Galactose intolerance, lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption
Finasteride can also lower prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, often measured with a blood test to diagnose prostate problems. If you are tested for such problems, tell your healthcare provider that you are taking Finasteride, so that they can interpret your test results correctly.
Finally, men with total baldness shouldn’t take Finasteride. It has not been shown to be effective in men who have experienced complete hair loss.
Finasteride side effects
Besides being highly effective, Finasteride is safe. In clinical trials, 98.6% of men experienced no serious side effects from Finasteride. However, as with most medications, some side effects can occur.
Side effects tend to be mild. They include dizziness, weakness, swelling in the hands or chest
In very rare circumstances, sexual side effects are possible – including erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and ejaculation disorders. Studies have found these to be rare, usually reversible, and most often associated with the higher 5mg dose of Finasteride taken by men treating an enlarged prostate gland. There is no statistically significant connection between Finasteride for MPB and sexual side effects.
If you are concerned about the potential side effects, get in touch with a Manual clinician. If you think you are experiencing serious Finasteride side effects right now, contact your GP.
Why choose Manual?
Some men will choose a hair transplant to tackle MPB and many men are happy with the results. However, Finasteride provides an easy way to reverse hair loss at home and without an expensive operation. Men with hair transplants still have follicles that are susceptible to DHT, by the way – and they’ll usually use Finasteride (and Minoxidil) to prevent further hair loss after the operation.
Naturally, the choice of treatment is yours. Manual is an accredited online pharmacy, and Finasteride an FDA-approved treatment for MPB. Unlike many other online vendors, we’re clinical professionals, experienced in tackling men’s hair loss. And we’re here whenever you need us, to provide free unlimited expert support and medical tracking.
What else do I need to read?
Before you take Finasteride, inform other healthcare professionals involved in your care about the new medications that you’ll be taking. And always read the accompanying treatment plan, which we will send to you once your order is approved. This will give you further information on possible side effects and drug interactions. Speak to a Manual specialist if you have any questions.