Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss: 5-Year Data
European Journal of Dermatology (2004)
5 years of finasteride 1mg maintained hair count above baseline in 90% of men vs progressive loss in placebo group.
Finasteride
Oral tablet (1mg, 5mg)Available in all 50 statesMarketing purposes only. Actual medications, if prescribed, are dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
hair
FinasterideFinasteride
Selective 5-alpha reductase type II inhibitor that reduces conversion of testosterone to DHT by ~70%. FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia (1mg) and BPH (5mg). Cornerstone of medical hair loss treatment.
Halts hair loss in 80 to 90% of men
Promotes hair regrowth in 50 to 65%
Reduces prostate volume
Once-daily oral dosing
No commitment · HSA/FSA eligibleNo commitment · HSA/FSA eligible
How it works
Mechanism of action
Selectively inhibits 5-alpha reductase type II in hair follicles, prostate, and skin, reducing serum DHT by ~70% and scalp DHT by ~60 to 70%. This reverses DHT-mediated miniaturization of genetically susceptible hair follicles.
The baseline panel.
Every Marek client receives this baseline panel before a provider review. Your provider may add additional biomarkers based on your health history, symptoms, and goals, pulling from 1,000+ available markers. See more biomarkers →
Hormone Profile
12 markers
Sex hormones
- Total TestosteroneLC/MS
- Free TestosteroneEquilibrium Dialysis
- Estradiol, Sensitive / UltrasensitiveLC/MS
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- ProgesteroneLC/MSFemale panel
- Prolactin
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- hCG, Total, QuantitativeFemale panel, pre-menopause
Adrenals & neurosteroids
- Cortisol
- DHEA-S
Growth hormone / IGF-1
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1)
Thyroid Status
3 markers
Thyroid hormones
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Free T4
- Free T3
Heart Health
9 markers
Cardiovascular health
- Total Cholesterol
- HDL Cholesterol
- LDL Cholesterol
- LDL:HDL Ratio
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Apolipoprotein-B (ApoB)
- C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity (hsCRP)
- Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a))
Metabolism
3 markers
Insulin sensitivity
- Blood Glucose
- Fasting Insulin
- HbA1c
Organ Function
26 markers
Liver & pancreas
- AST
- ALT
- Bilirubin, Total
- γ-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Kidney function
- BUN
- Creatinine w/ eGFR
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Glucose
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- Creatinine
- eGFR
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Carbon Dioxide, Total
- Calcium
- Protein, Total
- Albumin
- Globulin, Total
- Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- AST
- ALT
Prostate health
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)Male panel
- Free PSAMale panel
- % Free PSAMale panel
Nutrient Status
31 markers
Vitamins & minerals
- Vitamin D, 25-OHD (25-Hydroxy)
- Magnesium, RBC
Iron status
- Iron
- Iron Saturation
- TIBC
- UIBC
- Ferritin
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- White Blood Count (WBC)
- Red Blood Count (RBC)
- Hemoglobin (Hgb)
- Hematocrit (HCT)
- MCV
- MCH
- MCHC
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
- Platelets
- Neutrophils
- Neutrophils (Absolute)
- Lymphocytes
- Lymphocytes (Absolute)
- Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio
- Monocytes
- Monocytes (Absolute)
- Eosinophils
- Eosinophils (Absolute)
- Basophils
- Basophils (Absolute)
- Immature Cells
- Immature Granulocytes
- Immature Granulocytes (Absolute)
- NRBC, w/ Reflex for Immature Cells
Clinical evidence
The research behind Finasteride.
Safety profile
Monitoring & safety information.
Commonly reported side effects
- Decreased libido (1 to 2%)
- Erectile dysfunction (1 to 2%)
- Decreased ejaculate volume
- Breast tenderness
Less common but serious risks
- Post-finasteride syndrome (persistent sexual/neurological symptoms, debated)
- Depression/anxiety (rare reports)
- Fetal exposure risk (teratogenic, pregnant women must not handle crushed tablets)
Generally not appropriate for
- Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential
- Children
Typical monitoring
- PSA (finasteride reduces PSA by ~50%, must adjust reference)
- Sexual function assessment
- Hair density assessment
- Mood screening
FAQ
Quick answers.
Selective 5-alpha reductase type II inhibitor that reduces conversion of testosterone to DHT by ~70%. FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia (1mg) and BPH (5mg). Cornerstone of medical hair loss treatment.
Halts hair loss in 80 to 90% of men. Promotes hair regrowth in 50 to 65%. Reduces prostate volume. Once-daily oral dosing.
Common side effects include: decreased libido (1 to 2%), erectile dysfunction (1 to 2%), decreased ejaculate volume, breast tenderness. Most side effects are dose-dependent and may resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
Selective 5-alpha reductase type II inhibitor that reduces conversion of testosterone to DHT by ~70%. FDA-approved for androgenetic alopecia (1mg) and BPH (5mg). Cornerstone of medical hair loss treatment.
Treatments are dependent on licensed clinical prescription. Client costs vary based on individual labs and panel in treatments and services.