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 →
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.
How to Take It
Take one 1 mg tablet of finasteride once a day. You can take it with or without food. It may take 3 months or longer to see a benefit. Keep taking it to maintain the benefit. If you stop taking it, the effect will reverse within 12 months.
This is a plain-language summary of finasteride's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Finasteride is not for use in women, especially during pregnancy. It can cause birth defects in a male fetus. If a pregnant woman comes into contact with crushed or broken tablets, wash the area with soap and water.
This is a plain-language summary of finasteride's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, just take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take an extra dose.
This is a plain-language summary of finasteride's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store finasteride tablets at room temperature (68° to 77°F). Keep the container closed and protect from moisture.
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
- Tiredness
Tiredness
3,949 reports
- Trouble getting an erection
Trouble getting an erection
3,933 reports
- Feeling sad or hopeless
Feeling sad or hopeless
3,499 reports
- Feeling worried or nervous
Feeling worried or nervous
2,966 reports
- Feeling lightheaded
Feeling lightheaded
2,376 reports
- Problems with sexual function
Problems with sexual function
2,322 reports
- Loose stools
Loose stools
2,265 reports
- Death
Death
2,170 reports
- Weakness
Weakness
2,106 reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
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) 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.
What to do: You can take these medications together without any special changes to your treatment.
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.
What to do: No special action is needed, and you can take both medications as directed by your doctor.
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.
What to do: You can safely take these medications together without needing to adjust your doses.
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.
What to do: No special monitoring or dose adjustments are necessary when using these two drugs at the same time.
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.
What to do: You can safely take these medications together without any special adjustments.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
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?
Is finasteride safe during pregnancy?
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.
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bethanechol
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darifenacin
Enablex
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dutasteride
Avodart
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dutasteride/tamsulosin
Jalyn
This medicine combines two drugs to treat enlarged prostate in men.
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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
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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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 further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
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. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: July 28, 2017
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 and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
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