Medication questions Safety and side effects
Can you take creatine with finasteride?
Short answer
There is no known interaction between creatine and finasteride: neither the UK product information nor the NHS lists one. Worry about creatine and hair loss comes from a small 2009 study of 20 rugby players that found a rise in DHT. A 2025 trial found no change in DHT or hair over 12 weeks. The evidence is limited either way.
Key facts
- No interaction between creatine and finasteride is listed in the UK product information.
- 2009 study (20 rugby players, 3 weeks): blood DHT rose; hair was not measured.
- 2025 trial (45 men, 12 weeks): no difference in DHT or hair compared with placebo.
- Tell your prescriber about any supplements you take.
Is there an interaction?
Not one that is known. The UK summary of product characteristics (SmPC) for finasteride 1 mg lists no interaction with creatine. The NHS says finasteride "is not affected by other medicines", names St John's wort as a herbal remedy that might stop it working as well, and adds that "there's not enough information to say that other complementary medicines, herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take with finasteride".
That last line is the honest position for creatine: no known problem, but no dedicated studies of the combination either. The NHS advice is to tell your doctor or pharmacist about any supplements you take, and that includes creatine.
The 2009 rugby player study
The concern started with a study by van der Merwe and colleagues, published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine in 2009. Twenty college-aged rugby players took creatine (25 g a day for a week, then 5 g a day) or a placebo for 3 weeks, in a crossover design.
The researchers reported that DHT, the hormone linked to male pattern hair loss, rose by 56% after the first week and stayed 40% above baseline during the lower maintenance dose. Testosterone did not change. The authors concluded that creatine "may, in part, act through an increased rate of conversion of T to DHT" and called for more research.
What the study did not do matters just as much. It was small, it lasted 3 weeks, it measured hormones in the blood rather than the scalp, and it did not measure hair at all.
What newer research shows
In 2025, Lak and colleagues published a 12-week randomised controlled trial in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Forty-five resistance-trained men aged 18 to 40 took 5 g of creatine a day or a placebo, and 38 completed the trial. The researchers measured testosterone, DHT and hair, using scalp imaging and hair-root tests.
They found no differences between the groups in any hormone or hair measure. This was the first trial to look directly at hair after creatine, but it was also small and short, and male pattern hair loss develops over years.
The fair summary: one small study raised a question, and one small trial did not find the effect. Neither looked at men taking finasteride.
What this means if you take finasteride
There is no evidence that creatine stops finasteride working, and none that the combination is harmful. Equally, it has not been studied directly. Many people decide that the uncertainty is small enough to carry on; others prefer to avoid it. Either is reasonable. Tell your prescriber either way, so it is on your record.
If you are worried about your DHT, WMG Healthcare's page on the DHT blood test explains what it measures. Expect it to be low on finasteride. For other supplements, see saw palmetto and finasteride and does biotin help hair loss.
Finasteride itself carries MHRA warnings about mood and sexual side effects that may persist after stopping (Drug Safety Updates of 29 April 2024 and 11 May 2026). See our MHRA safety updates page.
Want an answer for your own situation?
A GMC-registered doctor can review your history and medicines and tell you what would suit you, including whether treatment is right for you at all. The assessment and review are free.
Start your free assessment →Related questions
Does creatine cause hair loss?
There is no good evidence that it does. A small 2009 study found a rise in blood DHT but did not measure hair. A 2025 randomised trial measured hair directly and found no difference from placebo over 12 weeks. Both studies were small and short.
Should I stop creatine while taking finasteride?
There is no official advice to stop. No interaction is known, though the combination has not been studied. It is a personal decision; mention it to your prescriber so it is part of your record.
Does creatine stop finasteride working?
There is no evidence that it does. Neither the UK product information nor the NHS lists creatine as affecting finasteride. The NHS does warn that St John's wort might stop finasteride working as well.
Can I take creatine with dutasteride or minoxidil?
No interaction with creatine is listed for either, but the same caveat applies: there are no dedicated studies. Tell your prescriber about every supplement you take.
Sources
- van der Merwe J, Brooks NE, Myburgh KH. Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players. Clin J Sport Med 2009
- Lak M et al. Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2025
- NHS: Taking finasteride with other medicines and herbal supplements
- Propecia 1 mg: summary of product characteristics, section 4.5 (eMC, revised 29 June 2026)
Facts checked against these sources on 4 October 2026. This page is general information, not personal medical advice. Read our editorial policy.