Finasteride: What It Is, How It Works, and Alternatives You Should Know

When you hear Finasteride, a prescription medication used primarily to treat male pattern baldness and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Also known as Proscalpin, it works by blocking the hormone that shrinks hair follicles and enlarges the prostate. It’s not a miracle cure, but for millions of men, it’s the difference between keeping their hair and losing it—slowly, but noticeably.

Finasteride doesn’t work the same for everyone. Some see thickening hair within six months. Others notice only a halt in loss. The key is consistency: you have to take it daily, and if you stop, the results vanish within months. That’s why many switch to dutasteride, a similar drug that blocks two types of the same hormone instead of one. Dutasteride is stronger, but also carries a higher risk of side effects like sexual dysfunction. Then there’s minoxidil, a topical solution that stimulates blood flow to the scalp—it doesn’t touch hormones, so side effects are different, and it works better when paired with Finasteride.

What most people don’t realize is that Finasteride isn’t just about hair. It’s also prescribed for an enlarged prostate, helping men urinate easier and reducing the chance of needing surgery. But that same mechanism—lowering DHT—can cause side effects like lowered libido or erectile dysfunction in a small percentage of users. These aren’t myths; they’re documented. And while most men don’t experience them, those who do often feel blindsided because doctors rarely warn them upfront.

That’s why the posts below cover more than just Finasteride. You’ll find direct comparisons with Proscalpin—which is just a brand name for the same drug—and other treatments like dutasteride, topical solutions, and even natural alternatives people try when they’re scared of side effects. You’ll also see real talk about what happens when you stop taking it, how long it takes to see results, and what your doctor should check before prescribing it. There’s even a post on how Finasteride interacts with other meds you might be taking for blood pressure or depression. This isn’t marketing fluff. These are real questions real men ask—and answers they actually need.