Prescription medication · 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor
finasteride
Also sold as Proscar, Propecia. Finasteride treats male pattern hair loss on the head.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 56,567
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 5
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
finasteride (Proscar) is a prescription 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor, more reported than most tracked drugs (56,567 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
finasteride (Proscar) is a prescription 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor. Finasteride treats male pattern hair loss on the head.
Finasteride is a medicine used to treat hair loss in men. It helps to prevent further hair loss on the head.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
finasteride is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$3.31/unit
Generic Price
$0.04/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (12 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: FINASTERIDE 1 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (4 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: +7.8% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 | $0.0454/EA | - | 2 |
| April 17, 2024 | $0.0386/EA | -15.1% | 1 |
| July 17, 2024 | $0.0372/EA | -3.4% | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.0401/EA | +7.8% | 10 |
What it does
Finasteride treats male pattern hair loss on the head.
Common side effects
Decreased sex drive, Trouble getting an erection, Problems with ejaculation (decreased amount of semen)
Key warnings
Finasteride is not for use in women.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from finasteride's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Finasteride blocks a substance in the body that changes testosterone into another hormone. This other hormone causes hair loss in men. By blocking it, finasteride can help reduce hair loss.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 56,567 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for finasteride, by number of reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
3,949 reports
- Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile Dysfunction
3,933 reports
- Depression
Depression
3,499 reports
- Anxiety
Anxiety
2,966 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
2,377 reports
- Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual Dysfunction
2,322 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
2,265 reports
- Death
Death
2,170 reports
- Asthenia
Asthenia
2,106 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
2,106 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for finasteride each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where finasteride sits
finasteride has more FDA adverse-event reports than 76% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is finasteride; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 56,567 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
56,567
Reports Mentioning Death
4,908
8.7% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
15,491
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FATIGUE | 3,949 |
| 2 | ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION | 3,933 |
| 3 | DEPRESSION | 3,499 |
| 4 | ANXIETY | 2,966 |
| 6 | DIZZINESS | 2,377 |
| 7 | SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION | 2,322 |
| 8 | DIARRHOEA | 2,265 |
| 9 | DEATH | 2,170 |
| 10 | ASTHENIA | 2,106 |
| 11 | DYSPNOEA | 2,106 |
| 12 | ADVERSE DRUG REACTION | 2,097 |
| 13 | INSOMNIA | 2,029 |
| 15 | FALL | 1,733 |
| 16 | LIBIDO DECREASED | 1,603 |
| 17 | NAUSEA | 1,577 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Finasteride is not for use in women. Pregnant women should not handle crushed or broken tablets because it can cause birth defects in a male fetus. Finasteride can lower your PSA levels, which could hide prostate cancer. This drug may also increase the risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer.
Known Drug Interactions
Compounds that have been tested in man include antipyrine, digoxin, propranolol, theophylline, and warfarin and no clinically meaningful interactions were found.
Mechanism: Studies in humans show that these two drugs do not have a meaningful effect on each other when taken together.
7.2 Other Concomitant Therapy Although specific interaction studies were not performed, finasteride doses of 1 mg or more were concomitantly used in clinical studies with acetaminophen, acetylsalicylic acid, α-blockers, analgesics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, calcium-channel blockers, cardiac nitrates, diuretics, H 2 antagonists, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors (also referred to as NSAIDs), and quinolone anti-infectives without evidence of clinically significant adverse interactions.
Mechanism: Clinical studies show that taking these two drugs together does not cause any significant problems or harmful side effects.
Compounds that have been tested in man include antipyrine, digoxin, propranolol, theophylline, and warfarin and no clinically meaningful interactions were found.
Mechanism: Research shows that these two drugs do not interfere with each other's levels or how they work in the body.
Compounds that have been tested in man include antipyrine, digoxin, propranolol, theophylline, and warfarin and no clinically meaningful interactions were found.
Mechanism: These drugs were tested together in humans and were found to have no significant interaction.
Compounds that have been tested in man include antipyrine, digoxin, propranolol, theophylline, and warfarin and no clinically meaningful interactions were found.
Mechanism: Studies show that these two drugs do not have a significant effect on each other when taken together.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can women use finasteride?
How long does it take to see results?
What happens if I stop taking finasteride?
Can finasteride affect my prostate?
What should I do if my PSA levels increase while taking finasteride?
Can finasteride interact with other medications?
What if a pregnant woman touches a broken finasteride tablet?
How should I store finasteride?
What are the most common side effects?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
What are the common side effects of finasteride?
Does finasteride interact with other medications?
What drug class is finasteride?
Is there a generic version of finasteride?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for finasteride?
Has finasteride been recalled?
Is finasteride currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations
Aspen Biopharma Labs Pvt., Ltd.
Related Medications in 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near finasteride - same-class peers and common alternatives.
alfuzosin
Uroxatral
Alfuzosin is a medicine that helps men with enlarged prostate glands.
Compare with finasteride →
bethanechol
Urecholine
Bethanechol helps you to urinate if you have trouble emptying your bladder.
Compare with finasteride →
darifenacin
Enablex
Darifenacin (Enablex) is a medicine that helps control an overactive bladder.
Compare with finasteride →
dutasteride
Avodart
Dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules contain two medicines to treat enlarged prostate in men.
Compare with finasteride →
dutasteride/tamsulosin
Jalyn
This medicine combines two drugs to treat enlarged prostate in men.
Compare with finasteride →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for finasteride: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 56,567.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 8.68%.
- clarithromycin Δ 0.01 pts · 33,247 reports · Macrolide Antibiotic 8.69%death share
- primidone Δ 0.01 pts · 9,782 reports · Anticonvulsant (Barbiturate) 8.69%death share
- sulfasalazine Δ 0.02 pts · 76,270 reports · Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) 8.69%death share
- artificial tears Δ 0.02 pts · 2,450 reports · Ocular Lubricant 8.65%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on finasteride
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for finasteride
The FDA label for finasteride (sold under brand names such as Proscar, Propecia) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor class. Finasteride treats male pattern hair loss on the head. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Decreased sex drive, Trouble getting an erection, Problems with ejaculation (decreased amount of semen).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 56,567 voluntary reports. The database also lists 5 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.04 versus $3.31 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: July 28, 2017
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages