Male pattern baldness: when finasteride makes sense, and at what dose

Male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) runs in families and progresses with age: hair at the temples, crown and top of the head gets finer until it stops growing. Finasteride slows that process and, in some men, brings back a little hair. It does nothing for other kinds of hair loss, so the first step is to make sure that this is what you have.

What this section sells

Propecia Generic (finasteride), 1 mg and 5 mg, in boxes of 30 to 366 tablets. We don't state the manufacturer. The 1 mg tablet is the licensed hair-loss dose, the same as Propecia and the EFG generics in Spanish pharmacies. The 5 mg tablet is the Proscar dose, used for an enlarged prostate; according to the product information, a higher dose does not grow more hair. We don't sell minoxidil.

What to expect, in numbers

• Timing: it takes 3 to 6 months to tell whether shedding has slowed, and in the trials the best results came at around 2 years.
• Results: mostly it holds on to what you have; some density returns, mainly on the crown, but it won't give you back the hair you had at 20.
• Stopping: the benefit starts to fade after 6 months, and by 9 to 12 months you are back where you started. It only makes sense as long-term treatment.
• Sexual side effects: lower desire, erection problems or less semen in 3.8% of men in the first year, against 2.1% on placebo. In some men these have persisted after stopping.

Mood: what the European regulator reviewed in 2025

In May 2025 the EMA's safety committee (PRAC) concluded that finasteride tablets can cause suicidal thoughts, at an unknown frequency. The benefits still outweigh the risks, but the advice is plain: if you feel low, anxious or notice any change in mood, stop finasteride 1 mg and talk to your doctor. Packs of the 1 mg strength now include a patient card.

Before you start

• Prostate tests: finasteride roughly halves your PSA level. Always mention that you take it.
• Pregnancy: it can affect the genitals of a male foetus. Whole tablets are coated, but a pregnant woman should never handle broken or crushed ones, which is one more reason not to split 5 mg tablets.
• Breast changes: male breast cancer has been reported in men taking it; see a doctor if you notice a lump, pain or discharge.

Minoxidil and other options

Minoxidil solution or foam, at 2% or 5%, is applied to the scalp and sold in Spanish pharmacies without a prescription; many dermatologists combine it with finasteride. A finasteride scalp spray (Alocare) is also licensed in Spain on prescription for men aged 18 to 41. Some dermatologists prescribe low-dose oral minoxidil, an off-label use that needs medical follow-up. Once baldness is established, a hair transplant is another route, and finasteride helps keep the hair that remains.

Prescription and delivery

Finasteride tablets are prescription-only in Spain, as in the UK. Your GP (médico de familia) at the centro de salud or a private dermatologist can prescribe them after looking at the pattern of hair loss, sometimes with a blood test. The Spanish health system does not fund finasteride 1 mg, so you pay the full price. Our orders go by post or courier under our delivery conditions.

Common questions

Sources: Spanish product information for Propecia 1 mg, Proscar 5 mg and Alocare (CIMA, AEMPS); PRAC, European Medicines Agency, meeting of 5 to 8 May 2025 (finasteride and dutasteride); BIFIMED, Spanish Ministry of Health. General information only; it does not replace a consultation. In Spain, prescription-only medicines may not be sold online, and customs can hold a parcel that contains them. We do not check prescriptions: talk to your doctor before you order.