What is Propecia?

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Propecia is a prescription tablet used to prevent and treat male pattern baldness. It’s the branded version of finasteride, which has been used to treat hair loss since 1997, and is effective in 90% of men.

Propecia should be taken once a day orally and should start to show effects after three to six months.

How does Propecia work?

The finasteride in Propecia stops the testosterone in your body from transforming into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by blocking the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase.

DHT stops your hair follicles from absorbing vital nutrients. These nutrients are needed for healthy hair growth.

For a clearer look at how Propecia works, please look at the infographic below:

DHT and hair loss - Does propecia work

How quickly does Propecia work?

How long does it take for Propecia to start working?
Propecia should begin to show results after three to six months when taken correctly (one tablet a day). However, this can take longer for some men - don’t give up if you’re not seeing hair growth just yet!

Can you take Propecia every other day?
No - it is recommended that you take Propecia once a day for the hair regrowth treatment to start working as intended.

How long can you take Propecia before you know it isn’t working?
If you’ve been taking Propecia for over a year and you’re yet to see any change up top, it’s likely that you do not respond to finasteride. If that’s the case, please consult your GP for next steps.

What happens if I stop taking Propecia?
If you stop taking Propecia, its effects will wear off and hair loss will start again within 6-12 months.

Does Propecia treat the underlying causes of hair loss?

What are the causes of hair loss?
There are several factors that can cause hair loss:

Stress
Shock
Hormone imbalance
Genetic predisposition to male pattern baldness
Side effects of medical treatments
Nutritional deficiencies

Is Propecia my only option to stop hair loss?
There are a number of other options to treat hair loss, including minoxidil, steroid creams and hair transplants. However, please make sure you consult your GP before embarking on any of these.

“It is important to speak with a GP if you’re concerned about hair loss in order to choose the safest and most effective treatment for you.” - Dr Neel Patel

How to take Propecia

Propecia is an oral tablet that should be taken once a day. It can be taken with or without food.

Propecia must be taken consistently in order to effectively begin treatment, and taking multiple tablets a day will not speed up the hair growth process. If you stop taking Propecia, your hair loss will return.

How effective is Propecia?

Propecia is considered the most effective hair loss medicine available. One clinical trial studying men aged 18-41 with mild or moderate hair loss showed Propecia having a positive effect on 90% of men, either maintaining their existing hair count or stimulating regrowth.

As mentioned, it will likely be three to six months before you start to see an effect from Propecia, though the following steps can be taken to maintain your hair’s health in the meantime:

Maintain your vitamin levels, in particular vitamin D and biotin
Eat a healthy diet
Consider a DHT blocking shampoo

However, it is unlikely that Propecia will be effective when taken by men who:

Already have severe hair loss (very little hair left)
Are not suffering from male pattern baldness (i.e. other types of hair loss)
Have a receding hairline
Do not take Propecia every day

Propecia is not a permanent cure for male pattern baldness. If you stop treatment, hair loss can resume within six months.

What are the side effects of Propecia?

Propecia side effects are uncommon and usually mild. Propecia has been known to cause:

A rash
Reduced sex drive
Low mood
Erection problems
Tenderness on or around the nipples

Finasteride has also been associated with depression and suicidal thoughts. A low sex drive and erectile dysfunction have persisted even after a person has stopped taking finasteride, though this is rare.

For full information on side effects and correct use, see the patient information leaflet. If any Propecia side effects concern you, contact us via your Patient Record.

We have noticed that a number of our patients have questions about the side effects of Propecia - we’ve answered the most popular below.

Propecia FAQs

Name: Propecia
Brand: Propecia
Availability: InStock

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Will Propecia give me erectile dysfunction?
There has been a reported link between the finasteride found in Propecia and sexual dysfunction. Some patients reported that sexual dysfunction (including decreased libido and erectile dysfunction) had persisted even after treatment was stopped.

What causes erectile dysfunction?
ED is most commonly caused by a reduced blood flow to the penis, which can happen due to a number of physical and psychological factors. These can include:

High cholesterol
Depression
Nerve damage
High blood pressure
Relationship problems
Hormone issues
Anxiety
Diabetes

What can I do if I have erectile dysfunction?
There are several ways to get better and stronger erections if you're suffering from ED. These can include:

Maintaining a healthier lifestyle (reduce alcohol, cigarettes and high-salt foods)
Reducing stress
Cutting out any illicit drug use

You can also speak to your GP about treatments for ED, or use an online consultation service like ours - we promise we’re discrete.

Does Propecia cause weight gain?
Currently there is no evidence to suggest that weight gain is a side effect of Propecia.

Why am I gaining weight?
You could be gaining weight due to a number of factors, including:

Sedentary lifestyle
Poor mental health
Side effects from medication

If you're gaining weight rapidly and are unsure of the reason, please consult your GP.

How do I lose weight?
If you need help losing weight, we have a number of resources on how to manage your weight, from healthy weight loss tips to weight loss treatments. Visit our guides if you want to start your weight loss journey today!

Does Propecia lower testosterone?
There is currently no evidence to show that Propecia will lower testosterone.

Why do I have low testosterone?
Testosterone levels begin to drop once men reach their 30s - this is a natural occurrence and is unlikely to cause any medical problems. However, there are several other causes for low testosterone. Please consult our guide on signs and symptoms of low testosterone levels for more details.

How can I improve my testosterone levels?
Most men do not need to boost their testosterone levels - despite what you might see online. Make an appointment with your doctor if you think you have low testosterone. From there, they can arrange a blood test and recommend further treatment.

How long can you take Propecia? Seemingly, as long as you’d like. Most patients have seen no side effects from Propecia, despite months or even years of treatment.

However, there have been rare reports of the following long-term symptoms from finasteride, the main ingredient in Propecia:

Sexual side effects (erection problems, etc.) that persist after treatment stopped
Association with depression and suicidal thoughts
Breast cancer - though this is very rare

If you’re worried about any side effects - particularly any swelling, lumps or pain in the chest area - please speak to your GP or message our clinicians in your Patient Record.

Via the LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor service, Propecia can be requested for the following prices:

Four-week pack: £55
Eight-week pack: £95
12-week pack: £135
24-week pack: £210

To view our prices in detail, visit our hair loss clinic.

As results are unlikely to show before three months it may be better value and more convenient to order in bulk. If you order the 24-week pack, then the cost of Propecia is £368 per year. We also offer a subscription service for finasteride (generic Propecia) from £8.50 a week.

Yes, you can order Propecia online. You can find Propecia online from a number of licensed and regulated UK healthcare services, including LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor (subject to an online consultation with one of our doctors).

Our NHS experienced clinicians are based in London and can safely prescribe medicines that have been licensed by the UK government agency MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency). We are also registered with the Care Quality Commission.

To request Propecia from Online Doctor:

Visit our online clinic and click “Start consultation”.
Register your details.
Fill out a short medical questionnaire, outlining the history of your hair loss.
One of our doctors will then read your responses and make sure you are suitable for treatment.
If you are successful, your order will be processed and your Propecia will be made available for collection or delivery.

As powerful as it is, Propecia is only one of a number of hair regrowth treatments available.

The most similar hair regrowth treatment to Propecia is finasteride tablets, as Propecia is simply a branded form of finasteride tablet. Both contain the same dose of finasteride, meaning they should work identically for hair loss.

Minoxidil is also considered an effective treatment for hair loss, being recommended as a treatment for both male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness. Propecia is not suggested for women as it could cause potential birth defects in a fetus if the user is pregnant.

Minoxidil is most famously found in Regaine, a foam rubbed on the scalp twice a day. This increases blood and nutrient flow to hair follicles to stimulate them into a growth phase, and can see results in as little as eight weeks. It is safe to take it and Propecia / finasteride at the same time - we even offer both options together as a finasteride and Regaine hair loss bundle.

Natural extracts used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia like saw palmetto are sometimes touted as a growth treatment as it has been suggested it works in a similar way to Propecia (reducing testosterone / DHT) conversion. However, there is not currently enough evidence to confirm this is the case, and side effects include digestive symptoms and headaches.

In rare cases hair loss may be due to a vitamin deficiency. As a result there are a variety of hair loss vitamin supplements available, the most common of which include biotin, zinc and iron. However, hair loss as a result of vitamin deficiency is rare so it’s worth talking to your GP to confirm this is the case before starting a course of supplements.

Male pattern baldness is a common form of hair loss, liable to affect 30-50% of men by age 50. Propecia is an effective treatment for this due to finasteride, an active ingredient in Propecia (actually the only ingredient - Propecia is a branded form of finasteride).

While side effects are usually rare - and mild if they are occurring - please consult your GP if you notice sexual dysfunction, changes to your mental health or any changes to your chest area. Better to be safe than sorry!

If recommended to take Propecia for hair loss you should expect to see results in three to six months. Stick to the recommended once-a-day dosage and be patient if you’re waiting for luscious locks!

If you’re concerned about male pattern baldness, request a consultation from our hair loss treatment hub today.