Description
Finpecia (Finasteride) 1 mg
Finpecia 1 mg is a finasteride tablet intended to match the well-established medicine finasteride 1 mg for male pattern hair loss. Finasteride is a prescription 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor used in men with androgenetic alopecia, also called male pattern hair loss. The available regulatory evidence supports its use for this specific indication in men only.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is finasteride. It belongs to the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor class. This class reduces the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that contributes to follicle miniaturisation in androgenetic alopecia.
Established Medical Uses
Finasteride 1 mg is established for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) in men only. Regulatory information notes that its efficacy in bitemporal recession has not been established and that it is not indicated for use in women or pediatric patients.
How It Works
Finasteride selectively inhibits type II 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. By lowering DHT in the scalp and blood, it helps interrupt a key hormonal pathway involved in androgenetic alopecia. In men genetically predisposed to this condition, reduced DHT exposure is associated with preservation of hair follicles and slower progression of hair thinning.
Important Safety Information
Finasteride is contraindicated in pregnancy and in people with hypersensitivity to any component of the product. It is not intended for use in women or children. Because finasteride can affect serum PSA values, clinicians may need to interpret PSA results carefully in men taking the medicine.
Important precautions include the potential risk to a male fetus if a pregnant woman is exposed to crushed or broken tablets. Regulatory labeling also notes a warning about a possible increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer seen with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in studies of another finasteride dose. No clinically important drug interactions have been identified, and finasteride does not appear to affect the cytochrome P450 drug-metabolizing system.
Possible Side Effects
Reported adverse effects include sexual dysfunction such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculation disorders, and reduced ejaculate volume. Other reported reactions include breast tenderness or enlargement, rash, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema, testicular pain, male infertility or reduced seminal quality, depression, and suicidal ideation or behavior. Some postmarketing reports describe sexual dysfunction persisting after discontinuation. Serious allergic reactions are uncommon but clinically important.
Scientific Evidence
Randomized trials and systematic reviews show that oral finasteride improves hair-related outcomes in men with androgenetic alopecia, including patient-rated improvement and hair counts, compared with placebo. The benefit has been studied most clearly over months of treatment, and continued use is generally associated with sustained effect while stopping treatment leads to loss of benefit over time. The evidence base also shows an increased risk of sexual adverse effects compared with placebo, although discontinuation because of these effects was uncommon in controlled trials.
Medical Information Notice
This summary is an educational overview based on the sources reviewed at the time of writing. It does not replace the official patient leaflet, product labeling, or an individual assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration — PROPECIA (finasteride) tablets, full prescribing information. View official prescribing information
- DailyMed / U.S. National Library of Medicine — Finasteride tablets, film coated, prescribing information. View official drug label
- José Manuel Mella et al. Efficacy and safety of finasteride therapy for androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review. Archives of Dermatology, 2010. View scientific article
- Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1998. View scientific article
