Finasteride, sold under the brand names Proscar and Propecia among others, is a medication used to treat pattern hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men.[6] It can also be used to treat excessive hair growth in women[7] It is usually taken orally but there are topical formulations for patients with hair loss, designed to minimize systemic exposure by acting specifically on hair follicles.[8]
Finasteride was patented in 1984 and approved for medical use in 1992.[16] It is available as a generic medication.[17] In 2022, it was the 73rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 9million prescriptions.[18][19]
^Blume-Peytavi U, Whiting DA, Trüeb RM (26 June 2008). Hair Growth and Disorders. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 369. ISBN978-3-540-46911-7. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
^Zakhem GA, Goldberg JE, Motosko CC, Cohen BE, Ho RS (July 2019). "Sexual dysfunction in men taking systemic dermatologic medication: A systematic review". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 81 (1): 163–172. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.03.043. PMID30905792. S2CID85497115.
^Zakhem GA, Goldberg JE, Motosko CC, Cohen BE, Ho RS (July 2019). "Sexual dysfunction in men taking systemic dermatologic medication: A systematic review". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 81 (1): 163–172. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.03.043. PMID30905792. S2CID85497115. In studies addressing reversibility, most of these patients have resolution of sexual adverse effects after discontinuation of finasteride, and many have improvement of adverse effects over time with continued finasteride use. However, some studies describe a subset of patients with persistent adverse effects after discontinuation... Level 1 evidence evaluating sexual dysfunction as a primary outcome was available for finasteride.