Comprehensive medication guide to Finasteride including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$30 copay for generic finasteride 5 mg for BPH on most commercial insurance and Medicare Part D (Tier 1–2); hair loss (1 mg) is typically NOT covered as it is a cosmetic indication.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$15–$47 retail for generic finasteride (1 mg or 5 mg) for a 30-day supply; as low as $9.25 with a GoodRx coupon or $12.57 with SingleCare for 90 tablets.
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Finasteride is a prescription oral medication belonging to the class of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs). It is FDA-approved for two conditions: male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) at a 1 mg daily dose (brand name Propecia), and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at a 5 mg daily dose (brand name Proscar). Generic finasteride is widely available from multiple manufacturers.
Finasteride was first approved by the FDA in 1992 for BPH (as Proscar) and in 1997 for male pattern hair loss (as Propecia). It is not a controlled substance and can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider, including primary care physicians, dermatologists, urologists, nurse practitioners, and telehealth providers.
Finasteride is contraindicated in pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential due to the risk of causing abnormal development of male fetal genitalia. Women should not handle crushed or broken tablets. It is not approved for use in children.
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Finasteride works by competitively inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase types II and III isoenzymes — the enzymes responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a more potent androgen that drives both prostate cell growth and the miniaturization of hair follicles in genetically susceptible men. By blocking this conversion, finasteride significantly reduces DHT levels in the blood and tissues.
Finasteride 1 mg reduces serum DHT by approximately 65-70% within 24 hours of the first dose. Finasteride 5 mg reduces DHT by approximately 70-75%. With lower DHT, hair follicles in the scalp are no longer under the same hormonal pressure to miniaturize, and the prostate gland is no longer stimulated to grow. Importantly, finasteride does not lower testosterone levels — serum testosterone actually increases slightly because less is being converted to DHT.
Finasteride is not a cure. It only works as long as it is taken. Discontinuation results in DHT levels returning to pre-treatment levels within weeks, and hair loss or prostate growth will resume.
1 mg — tablet
For male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). Brand name: Propecia. Take once daily with or without food.
5 mg — tablet
For benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Brand name: Proscar. Take once daily with or without food. May be combined with doxazosin.
Finasteride is generally widely available as a generic medication in 2026. It is not listed on the FDA Drug Shortages database or the ASHP shortage list. Multiple generic manufacturers — including Teva, Dr. Reddy's, and Hetero Labs — produce both the 1 mg and 5 mg tablets, and the national supply chain is stable.
However, individual pharmacies may occasionally run low on stock, particularly for the 1 mg dose used for hair loss. This is partly due to the rapid growth of telehealth prescribing for male pattern baldness, which has increased demand. The 5 mg BPH dose is generally more reliably stocked because it is covered by insurance, giving pharmacies stronger stocking incentives.
If your pharmacy is out of finasteride, medfinder calls pharmacies near you to find which ones have your prescription in stock — saving you from calling each pharmacy yourself.
Finasteride is not a controlled substance, which means any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority can write a prescription. There are no DEA registration requirements or special prescribing certifications needed. Prescriptions can be filled at any licensed pharmacy and can also be obtained through telehealth.
Dermatologists: Most common specialists for finasteride for hair loss; can diagnose androgenetic alopecia and rule out other causes
Urologists: Primary specialists for finasteride for BPH; manage prostate health and urinary conditions
Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) and Family Medicine: Can prescribe for both hair loss and BPH
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs): Can prescribe in most states; many primary care and urgent care settings use NPs/PAs as primary providers
Telehealth providers: Can prescribe in all 50 states; services like Hims, Ro, Roman, and GoodRx Care prescribe finasteride for hair loss with online consultations starting at $16/month
Telehealth is particularly popular for finasteride hair loss prescriptions. Multiple established platforms (Hims, Ro, Roman, GoodRx Care) offer online consultations and can prescribe and ship finasteride directly to patients. This makes obtaining a prescription faster and easier than an in-person dermatologist visit in many cases.
No. Finasteride is not a controlled substance. It has no DEA scheduling and is not subject to the prescribing or refill restrictions that apply to controlled medications such as opioids, stimulants, or benzodiazepines.
This means finasteride can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider (including NPs and PAs), transferred freely between pharmacies, filled via mail-order or telehealth services, and prescribed in 90-day supplies without special restrictions. There are no limits on early refills imposed by controlled substance regulations.
Despite not being controlled, finasteride does carry significant safety considerations: it has a boxed warning regarding risk of high-grade prostate cancer, and it is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy due to teratogenicity. These are medical considerations, not regulatory scheduling issues.
In clinical trials, approximately 3.8% of patients taking finasteride 1 mg reported drug-related adverse experiences (vs. 2.1% on placebo). Most side effects are sexual in nature:
Decreased libido (reduced sex drive)
Erectile dysfunction
Ejaculation disorder (decreased volume)
Breast enlargement or tenderness (gynecomastia)
Skin rash
BOXED WARNING: Increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer
Depression and suicidal ideation (2025 EMA warning — primarily with 1 mg dose)
Male breast cancer (rare, post-marketing reports)
Persistent sexual dysfunction after stopping (post-finasteride syndrome)
Male infertility / reduced semen quality (generally reversible)
Testicular pain (rare)
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Dutasteride (Avodart)
Also a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor; inhibits all three isoenzymes vs. finasteride's two; FDA-approved for BPH; used off-label for hair loss; may be more effective for hair loss but not FDA-approved for that indication. Much longer half-life (~5 weeks).
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
FDA-approved for hair loss; works by different mechanism (vasodilator increasing blood flow to follicles); available OTC topically or by prescription orally. Often combined with finasteride for better results.
Tamsulosin (Flomax)
Alpha-blocker FDA-approved for BPH; relaxes prostate and bladder neck muscles; faster symptom relief than finasteride but does not reduce prostate size. Often combined with finasteride.
Doxazosin (Cardura)
Alpha-blocker FDA-approved for BPH and hypertension; approved combination with finasteride in the MTOPS trial for BPH progression prevention. Generic widely available and inexpensive.
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Doxazosin (combination)
minorIntentional combination for BPH; additive side effects including postural hypotension, asthenia, and abnormal ejaculation. Clinically approved and recommended for moderate-to-severe BPH.
PSA testing (lab interaction)
moderateFinasteride reduces PSA levels by ~50% within 6 months. All providers ordering PSA must know patient takes finasteride to correctly interpret results. Not a drug-drug interaction but a critical clinical consideration.
Liver disease / hepatic impairment
moderateFinasteride is extensively metabolized in the liver via CYP3A4. In hepatic impairment, drug clearance may be reduced and levels elevated. Use with caution in liver disease patients.
Finasteride is one of the most clinically proven and cost-effective treatments available for both male pattern hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia. As a mature generic medication with a well-established safety profile, it is affordable, widely available, and not subject to national shortages in 2026. Generic finasteride with a GoodRx coupon typically costs under $10 per month — making adherence straightforward for most patients.
The primary considerations for patients and providers are the known side effect profile (particularly sexual side effects and the 2025 EMA update on suicidal ideation), the PSA-lowering effect that must be communicated to all providers involved in prostate cancer screening, and the absolute contraindication in pregnancy. Within these parameters, finasteride is a safe and effective long-term therapy for appropriate patients.
If you ever encounter a local pharmacy stock-out, medfinder can quickly locate which nearby pharmacies have finasteride in stock, helping you maintain uninterrupted treatment.
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