People mainly take Finasteride for skin & hair, libido, mood. Based on 59 first-hand reports and 113 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #115 of 1,974 overall.
Of reports that state an outcome, 29% are positive.
Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.
3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis strongly suggests that minoxidil, finasteride, and low-level laser light therapy are effective for promoting hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia and that minoxidil is effective in women with androgenetic alopecia.
PubMed 28396101 ↗Conclusion: As studies into dutasteride were limited, further trials are required. It is important that physicians are aware of, and assess, the possibility of sexual dysfunction in patients treated with 5α-reductase inhibitors.
PubMed 30206635 ↗Conclusion: oral minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride), and procedural (e.g. platelet-rich plasma, fractionated lasers, hair transplantation) treatments successfully promote hair growth, highlighting the superiority of a multifaceted and individualized approach to management.
PubMed 38852607 ↗Conclusion: Candidate gene and genome-wide association studies have reported that single-nucleotide polymorphisms at different genomic loci are associated with androgenetic alopecia development. A number of genes determine the predisposition for androgenetic alopecia in a polygenic fashion. However, further studies are needed before the specific genetic factors of this polygenic condition can be fully explained.
PubMed 28349362 ↗As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.
How often each side effect came up across all reports.
Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.
“finasteride (once weekly)”
“I'm 40 now and have been taking Propecia for 20 years. I constantly get told I look freakishly young for my age.”
“The only side effect I had were from the Finasteride, and when I went to an every second day dose those went away.”
“Start finasteride/minoxidil topical to prevent and maybe grow back some”
“There is a mountain of evidence for the effectiveness of finasteride for MPB compared to almost nothing for ghkcu.”
User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate