Medication questions Finasteride
How do you take finasteride for hair loss?
Short answer
The licensed dose for male pattern hair loss is one 1 mg tablet once a day, swallowed whole, with or without food. The time of day does not matter as long as it is roughly the same each day. The 5 mg tablet is licensed for an enlarged prostate, not hair loss. Allow 3 to 6 months before judging it, and read the MHRA mood and sexual side-effect warnings before you start.
Key facts
- Finasteride 1 mg: one tablet daily, with or without food. The product information says an increase in dose has no evidence of greater effect.
- Any time of day works if you keep it consistent (NHS). There is no official morning versus evening rule.
- Finasteride 5 mg is licensed for an enlarged prostate only. Do not split or crush tablets: the NHS says swallow them whole.
- Allow 3 to 6 months of daily use before judging it. Benefits fade if you stop.
- If you develop depression or suicidal thoughts on finasteride 1 mg, stop it and contact your doctor straight away.
The licensed dose
Finasteride 1 mg tablets (Propecia and generics) are licensed in the UK for men with male pattern hair loss. The Propecia summary of product characteristics (SmPC), the official prescribing information, says: "The recommended dosage is one 1 mg tablet daily." It adds that there is no evidence that increasing the dose will increase effect. The NHS says the same for hair loss: the usual dose is 1 mg, taken once a day.
Finasteride is not licensed for women or for children and adolescents. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you after reviewing your history; see our guide to side effects and MHRA warnings.
With or without food, morning or night?
Food. The SmPC and the leaflet both say the tablet can be taken with or without food, and the NHS says you can eat and drink normally while taking it.
Time of day. The NHS says it does not matter what time of day you take it, "just make sure it's around the same time each day". The product information does not favour morning or night, so choose a time you will remember, such as with a daily routine like brushing your teeth. A fixed time makes missed doses less likely.
Alcohol. The NHS says you can drink alcohol with finasteride; see finasteride and alcohol for the mood caveat.
Missed and extra doses
The patient leaflet says: "Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose." Our guide to what to do about a missed dose covers a late dose, a missed day and a longer gap.
If you take too many tablets by mistake, the leaflet says to contact your doctor immediately. The NHS says taking too much is unlikely to harm you, but to call NHS 111 for advice if you feel unwell.
Can you take finasteride every other day?
The licensed regimen is one tablet daily, and neither the SmPC nor the NHS describes an every-other-day schedule. The product information recommends continuous use, because the benefit reverses after you stop. We cannot point to an official source for alternate-day dosing, so we do not advise it as a way of saving tablets or reducing side effects. If side effects are a concern, tell your prescriber, who can review the options with you, including stopping. Our stopping finasteride guide explains what to expect.
1 mg or 5 mg? Can you split a 5 mg tablet?
Finasteride comes in two strengths with different licences. The 1 mg tablet is licensed for male pattern hair loss. The 5 mg tablet (Proscar and generics) is licensed for the "treatment and control of benign prostatic hyperplasia", an enlarged prostate; hair loss is not in its SmPC. The MHRA treats them as different products in its safety advice: for 1 mg it advises stopping immediately if depression or suicidal thoughts develop, while for 5 mg it advises contacting your clinician promptly.
Cutting a 5 mg tablet to make a smaller dose is not a licensed use and we do not advise it. The NHS says to swallow finasteride whole and not to break or crush the tablets. Women who are or may be pregnant must not handle crushed or broken tablets, because finasteride can affect the development of a male baby; the Proscar product information says the tablet's coating protects against contact with the active ingredient only while the tablet is intact. Our page on finasteride and trying for a baby covers this.
How long before it works?
The SmPC says that generally three to six months of once-daily treatment are required before there is evidence of stabilisation of hair loss, and that continuous use is recommended. The NHS says you can expect to see some improvement after 3 to 6 months. See how long finasteride takes to work for the month-by-month picture, and how to tell if treatment is working.
Before you start: the MHRA warnings
The MHRA has warned that finasteride is associated with low mood, depression, suicidal thoughts and sexual dysfunction, and that sexual dysfunction may persist after treatment is stopped. A patient alert card comes in the pack. Read it and the leaflet before the first tablet, and tell your prescriber about any history of depression or suicidal thoughts.
If you develop depression or suicidal thoughts on finasteride 1 mg, stop it and contact your doctor as soon as possible. If you are struggling, call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time, call NHS 111, or call 999 or go to A&E if you feel at serious risk. Report suspected side effects through the Yellow Card scheme.
Topical finasteride
The finasteride and minoxidil topical that WMG Meds can prescribe is an unlicensed special, prescribed off-label, with no product information of its own. Follow the directions on your label rather than the tablet directions above, and see topical versus oral finasteride. If you would like a GMC-registered doctor to look at whether finasteride is right for you, start the free online assessment.
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Start your free assessment →Related questions
What is the dose of finasteride for hair loss?
One 1 mg tablet once a day. The product information says there is no evidence that a higher dose has a greater effect.
Should I take finasteride in the morning or at night?
Either. The NHS says the time of day does not matter, provided you take it around the same time each day.
Can I take finasteride with food?
Yes. The leaflet says the tablet can be taken with or without food.
Can I take finasteride every other day?
Not as a licensed regimen. The product information describes one tablet daily and recommends continuous use. Speak to your prescriber before changing how you take it.
Can I cut a 5 mg finasteride tablet into smaller doses?
We do not advise it. The 5 mg tablet is licensed for an enlarged prostate, not hair loss, and the NHS says finasteride tablets should be swallowed whole, not broken or crushed. Pregnant women must not handle crushed or broken tablets.
How long do I take finasteride for?
The NHS says you will usually take it for a long time, and that hair loss will usually come back if you stop. Do not stop without speaking to your prescriber, unless you develop depression or suicidal thoughts, when you should stop the 1 mg tablet and contact your doctor straight away.
Sources
- Propecia 1 mg: summary of product characteristics (eMC, revised 29 June 2026)
- Propecia 1 mg: patient information leaflet (eMC, revised May 2026)
- Proscar 5 mg: summary of product characteristics (eMC, revised 20 December 2024)
- NHS: How and when to take finasteride
- NHS: Common questions about finasteride
- MHRA Drug Safety Update, 11 May 2026: Finasteride and dutasteride, updated safety warnings
- MHRA Drug Safety Update, 29 April 2024: Finasteride, reminder of the risk of psychiatric side effects and of sexual side effects
Facts checked against these sources on 22 October 2026. This page is general information, not personal medical advice. Read our editorial policy.