Buy Finasteride (Propecia) — Online Prescription

Finasteride is the generic name behind both Propecia (1mg, for hair loss) and Proscar (5mg, for an enlarged prostate) — the same drug at two different doses for two different conditions. Here's how it actually works, the real side-effect numbers from FDA trials, the persistent-symptom reports most pages soften, and what it costs.

Medically reviewed Medically reviewed by Angelo DeFazio, R.Ph. — NPI 1629115530 · Last updated 2026-09-11

What finasteride is, and how it works

Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor — it blocks the enzyme (Type II 5α-reductase) that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent androgen hormone. DHT is the hormone primarily responsible for shrinking genetically susceptible hair follicles in male pattern baldness, and it also drives prostate tissue growth in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — which is why the same mechanism treats two seemingly unrelated conditions at different doses.

• Male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) — the 1mg dose (Propecia), FDA-approved for men.
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — the 5mg dose (Proscar), to improve urinary symptoms, reduce the risk of acute urinary retention, and reduce the risk of needing BPH surgery.

Finasteride lowers DHT levels by roughly 70% in the scalp and blood at the 1mg dose, which is enough to slow or partially reverse the follicle miniaturization process in many men, without eliminating DHT (or testosterone) entirely.

Finasteride vs. Propecia vs. Proscar: one drug, two doses

This trips people up more than almost any other drug on this site — there are two distinct brand names because there are two distinct FDA-approved uses at two distinct doses, not because one is an upgrade or newer version of the other.

Generic finasteride is the same molecule regardless of which brand name originally studied a given dose — a pharmacist filling "finasteride 1mg" and "finasteride 5mg" is dispensing the identical active ingredient, just formulated at the dose appropriate to what you're being treated for.

Dosing: 1mg for hair loss vs. 5mg for BPH

How long it takes to work, and what happens if you stop

Finasteride is not fast-acting in either use. For hair loss, the FDA label is explicit that daily use for three months or more is generally necessary before any benefit becomes apparent, and visible improvement typically continues building over 6 to 12 months of consistent daily use. For BPH, symptom improvement similarly develops gradually rather than immediately.

Combining finasteride with minoxidil

Finasteride (oral, 1mg) and minoxidil (typically topical, over the counter) are commonly used together for hair loss, and this combination is standard, well-established practice rather than something unusual or risky. The two work through entirely different, unrelated mechanisms — finasteride lowers DHT production systemically, while minoxidil acts locally on hair follicles through a different pathway not related to DHT — which is why combining them is a reasonable strategy for a more comprehensive approach than either alone.

There's no significant drug interaction between them: finasteride's label specifically states it has no clinically important interactions with the cytochrome P450 drug-metabolizing system, and testing against several common medications found no meaningful interactions. If you're using both, side effects (if any) should still be tracked individually — minoxidil has its own separate side-effect profile (scalp irritation, unwanted facial/body hair growth in some cases) distinct from finasteride's.

Sexual side effects: the real numbers

This deserves the actual trial data rather than a vague "some men experience side effects" — the numbers are more specific and more reassuring in their trajectory than that phrasing suggests.

• Propecia (1mg, hair loss), year 1: decreased libido 1.8% (vs. 1.3% placebo), erectile dysfunction 1.3% (vs. 0.7%), ejaculation disorder 1.2% (vs. 0.7%). Combined, 3.8% of men reported at least one sexual side effect vs. 2.1% on placebo.
• Proscar (5mg, BPH), year 1: impotence 8.1% (vs. 3.7% placebo), decreased libido 6.4% (vs. 3.4%), decreased ejaculate volume 3.7% (vs. 0.8%) — meaningfully higher than the 1mg dose, as expected.
• Trajectory over time: in the Propecia trials, new reports of these side effects dropped to 0.3% or less by year 5. In the Proscar BPH trials, years 2–4 showed no significant difference from placebo in the rate of impotence, decreased libido, or ejaculation problems — these effects were concentrated early and tended not to persist or recur with continued treatment for most men.

For most men who experience sexual side effects on finasteride, they resolve — either after stopping the medication, or, for a good number, even while continuing it. That said, the persistent-symptom question deserves its own honest treatment, covered next.

Persistent side effects and mental health: what the FDA label says

What this means practically: take any mood change, new depression, or sexual side effect that appears while on finasteride — or that doesn't resolve after stopping it — seriously, and tell your prescriber promptly rather than waiting it out silently or assuming it's unrelated. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, that's an emergency — call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency room, regardless of whether you think finasteride is the cause. This isn't a reason to avoid finasteride reflexively, but it is a reason to have an honest conversation with your prescriber about your personal risk tolerance before starting, especially if you have a personal or family history of depression.

Prostate cancer, PSA testing, and the PCPT trial

Two separate, frequently confused questions: does finasteride affect your PSA test, and does it affect prostate cancer risk?

• PSA suppression is real and expected. Finasteride lowers PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels — by about 50% at the 5mg BPH dose, and a smaller amount at the 1mg hair-loss dose. Your doctor needs to account for this when interpreting any PSA result while you're on finasteride; an unexpected increase from your lowest value while on the drug should always be evaluated, since it can signal prostate cancer even if the raw number looks normal for someone not taking the drug.
• Finasteride is not approved to prevent prostate cancer. This is an explicit limitation of use on the Proscar label, despite the drug's association with a major cancer-prevention trial.
• The PCPT trial found a mixed, debated signal. In the 7-year Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (5mg dose, in men 55+), finasteride reduced overall prostate cancer diagnoses, but men who did develop cancer while on finasteride had a slightly higher rate of high-grade (Gleason 8-10) disease specifically — 1.8% vs. 1.1% on placebo. The FDA requires this be disclosed as a warning. Subsequent research modeling the trial's biopsy data has attributed much of this apparent excess to detection bias: finasteride shrinks the prostate, which increases the density of tissue sampled on a standard biopsy and makes existing high-grade disease more likely to be found, rather than necessarily reflecting the drug causing more aggressive cancer to form.

The practical takeaway: this doesn't mean finasteride is a prostate-cancer risk to avoid reflexively, but it's a legitimate reason for regular prostate/PSA monitoring discussions with your doctor while on it, especially at the 5mg dose — not something to research anxiously on your own without that conversation.

Pregnancy and women: why exposure matters

• Intact tablets are fine to handle normally. The coating prevents skin contact with the active drug during ordinary handling.
• Crushed or broken tablets are the actual risk. Women who are or may become pregnant should not handle broken or crushed finasteride tablets, since the drug can potentially be absorbed through skin contact.
• If accidental exposure to crushed finasteride happens during pregnancy, contact your doctor — don't wait for a routine visit.

Some prescribers do use finasteride off-label for certain hair-loss patterns in postmenopausal women who cannot become pregnant, but that's an individualized decision outside this drug's standard approved use, and not something this page covers in depth.

Buying finasteride: prescription, pricing, and telehealth

• Generic is the default, and it's inexpensive. Brand-name Propecia and Proscar are rarely stocked today — generic finasteride is chemically identical at both doses. See the price table above, and ask your Arrow Pharmacy pharmacist for a current cash quote.
• The hair-loss dose is often not covered by insurance. Because 1mg finasteride for hair loss is typically classified as cosmetic, many insurance plans don't cover it, while the 5mg BPH dose more often is — ask us to check your specific coverage rather than assuming either way.
• A prescription doesn't require a specialist. Primary care providers and dermatologists both routinely prescribe finasteride for hair loss; urology involvement is more common for BPH management, especially with combination therapy or more complex cases. Telehealth consultations are also a legitimate, common way people get evaluated and prescribed finasteride today.
• We can fill or transfer a prescription quickly. Call us at (860) 522-9289 once your prescriber sends a new finasteride prescription, or to transfer an existing one.

If cost is a barrier, ask us about discount programs — see our patient assistance programs page for options that apply broadly, not just to this drug.

Finasteride (Propecia) Prices in the USA

These are estimated average US retail cash prices — not insurance copays, not coupon prices, and not a quote from Arrow Pharmacy. Actual cost varies significantly by pharmacy, region, quantity, and insurance. Brand-name Propecia and Proscar are rarely prescribed or stocked today — generic finasteride fills the vast majority of prescriptions at both doses. One practical note: the 1mg hair-loss dose is typically considered cosmetic and often isn't covered by insurance, while the 5mg BPH dose more often is — ask us to check both if cost matters. Call us at (860) 522-9289 for a current price.

Frequently asked questions