How Finasteride Works?
Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the hormone responsible for causing male pattern hair loss. In short, the less DHT, the more hair is preserved on the scalp.
Finasteride (Generic Propecia®)
Finasteride (Generic Propecia®)
By blocking dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for hair loss in men, finasteride provides an effective treatment for male pattern hair loss.
Finasteride (Generic Propecia®)
By blocking dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for hair loss in men, finasteride provides an effective treatment for male pattern hair loss.
Finasteride
Starting from $53.66 per month
I want to take finasteride:
Medical Consult
$37.50
*The cost indicated does not include the cost of the doctor consult or any applicable service fees
*Includes 1 year prescription if approved
*Access to our clinicians for 1 year
*100% refundable if you are declined the prescription after a medical review
*Includes 1 year prescription if approved
*Access to our clinicians for 1 year
*100% refundable if you are declined the prescription after a medical review
When can I start to notice improvement after starting finasteride?
You may see improvement in a few months, usually 3 to 4 months. Since hair growth is a slow process, patience and adhering to personalized treatment plan is key with finasteride and other hair loss treatments.
Full benefits are usually noticeable after 6 to 12 months. For more effective treatment, combine finasteride with minoxidil.
Finasteride vs. Minoxidil?
Finasteride blocks DHT (dihydrotestosterone) whereas Minoxidil increases the blood supply to the hair follicles. The effect on hair is also different. Finasteride helps prevent your scalp from losing hair while minoxidil promotes new hair growth.
Since both treatments work in different ways to treat hair loss, our team usually recommends starting with a combination for best results.
More Hair Loss Treatments
Finasteride
Finasteride provides an effective treatment for male pattern hair loss.
Learn More
Minoxidil
Minoxidil 5% is a topical treatment that is Health Canada approved for hair regrowth.
Learn More
Premium Topical Finasteride/Minoxidil
Advanced medication delivery for customized treatment.
Learn More
Finasteride
From $53.66 per month
Finasteride provides an effective treatment for male pattern hair loss.
Learn More
Minoxidil
From $59.99 per month
Minoxidil 5% is a topical treatment that is Health Canada approved for hair regrowth.
Learn More
Premium Topical Finasteride/Minoxidil
From $143.33 per month
Advanced medication delivery for customized treatment.
Learn More
Finasteride–FAQs
Finasteride is a medication used to treat male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) at the crown and in the middle of the scalp, as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarged prostate. It belongs to a class of drugs known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the hormone mainly responsible for prostate growth and male pattern baldness.
Finasteride is typically taken once a day, with or without food. It’s crucial to follow the dosage instructions provided by your healthcare provider. Consistent daily use is recommended to see the benefits, and it may take a few months to notice an improvement.
Some side effects may include impotence, loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, abnormal ejaculation, swelling in your hands or feet, headache, runny nose, or skin rash. If you experience these symptoms, please inform our medical staff at support@getgambit.ca, or dial 9-1-1 if you are experiencing a severe side effect and require urgent assistance.
Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle Finasteride, especially crushed or broken tablets, as it can cause birth defects. Men should inform their healthcare provider about all medical conditions and other medications they are taking.
Finasteride can help slow down hair loss and even regrow some hair by blocking a hormone that causes hair loss. However, it’s not a total cure since results can differ among individuals, and stopping the medication usually leads to hair loss coming back.
It’s important to notify us of all the prescription medication you are taking as certain drug interactions can occur. Make sure to provide a list of all the medications you are currently taking, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and herbal products.
Important Safety Information
What the medication is used for:
FINASTERIDE is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia).
What it does
FINASTERIDE blocks an important enzyme (Type II 5-alpha-reductase) involved in the regulation of the hair follicle and lowers the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp, a major cause of male pattern hair loss.
When it should not be used
Do not take FINASTERIDE if you think you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Women and children should not take FINASTERIDE. Do not take FINASTERIDE if you are or may potentially be pregnant.
Finasteride
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:
BEFORE you use FINASTERIDE talk to your physician or pharmacist about any medical problems you have or have had, especially liver disease, and about any allergies.
Finasteride 5 mg (5 times the dose of FINASTERIDE for treatment of male pattern hair loss) may increase the chance of a more serious form of prostate cancer.
Pregnancy
Women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use FINASTERIDE. They should also not handle crushed or broken tablets of FINASTERIDE. If the active ingredient in FINASTERIDE is absorbed after oral use or through the skin by a woman who is pregnant with a male baby, it may cause the male baby to be born with abnormalities of the sex organs. FINASTERIDE tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets are not broken or crushed. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active ingredient in FINASTERIDE, a physician should be consulted.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION:
FINASTERIDE usually does not interfere with other medicines. However, you should always tell your physician about all medicines you are taking or plan to take, including those obtained without prescription.
FINASTERIDE can affect a blood test called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) used for the screening of prostate cancer. If you have a PSA test done, you should tell your physician that you are taking FINASTERIDE.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION:
Overdose
In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
When can I expect to see results from using FINASTERIDE?
Male pattern hair loss is a condition that develops over a long period of time. On average, healthy hair grows only about 1 cm each month. Therefore, it will take time to see any effect. In general, daily use for three months or more may be necessary before you notice that hair growth is increased, or further hair loss is prevented.
How long do I need to use FINASTERIDE?
FINASTERIDE can only work over the long-term if you continue taking it.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM:
Like any medicine, FINASTERIDE may cause side effects.
Common side effects:
- less desire to have sex;
- difficulty in achieving an erection;
- problems with ejaculation, such as a decrease in the amount of semen released during sex (this does not appear to interfere with normal sexual function).
In clinical studies, these side effects disappeared in men who stopped taking FINASTERIDE and in most men who continued treatment.
In general use, the following have been reported infrequently:
- breast enlargement (swelling) and/or tenderness;
- depression;
- decrease in sex drive that continued after stopping the medication;
- allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives, and swelling of the lips, tongue, throat and face;
- muscle injury, muscle pain, muscle weakness, abnormal test results (CK elevation);
- problems with ejaculation that continued after stopping the medication;
- testicular pain;
- blood in semen
- difficulty in achieving an erection that continued after stopping the medication;
- male infertility and/or poor quality of semen. Improvement in the quality of semen has been reported after stopping the medication;
- male breast cancer.
Talk to your doctor about any changes in your breast such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge. Tell your physician or pharmacist promptly about these or any other unusual symptoms.
Source: Sanis Health Inc. Inc. Product Monograph