Propecia



Propecia
Treat male pattern baldness and encourage new hair growth with Propecia tablets.
- Take one tablet a day.
- Visible results in as little as 3 months.
- Shown to limit noticeable hair loss in up to 90% of men.
Product details
Propecia is a prescription-only hair loss treatment available in tablet form. It contains the active ingredient finasteride, a common treatment for male pattern baldness.
Propecia is effective for up to 90% of men at encouraging new hair growth or preventing further hair loss.
If you think Propecia may be right for you, you can request Propecia tablets from Superdrug Online Doctor.
To request treatment from Superdrug Online Doctor complete a short online health questionnaire for one of our doctors to review. If they think Propecia tablets are safe and suitable for you, your order will be delivered to your address or you can arrange to collect them from your local Superdrug Pharmacy in as little as 2 hours after a doctor’s approval.
The service is discreet and easy to use, and there’s no need for a face-to-face appointment.

Medically reviewed by
Dr Zoe MillerLast reviewed: 15 Jan 2025
Propecia prices
Pack Size | Price |
---|---|
1 mg - 28 tablet(s) | £54.00 |
1 mg - 56 tablet(s) | £97.00 |
1 mg - 84 tablet(s) | £118.00 |
1 mg - 168 tablet(s) | £215.00 |
Delivery Options
How it Works




With Superdrug Online Doctor you can message our Doctors for FREE via your patient account.
About Propecia
What is Propecia?
Propecia is a prescription tablet that’s used to treat and prevent male pattern baldness. It contains the active ingredient finasteride which is effective for 90% of men.
Finasteride belongs to a group of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors which lower the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone responsible for thinning hair and hair loss in men.
Propecia comes in 1mg tablets and the usual dose is 1 tablet per day. Some men see visible results after 3 months of taking it. Propecia is a branded version of finasteride and is manufactured by Organon Pharma.
How does Propecia work?
The active ingredient in Propecia, finasteride, works by stopping your body from transforming testosterone into another hormone called DHT.
DHT reduces the growth phase of hair and also causes it to thin, resulting in hair loss. Propecia lowers the amount of DHT in the scalp and bloodstream to reverse the balding process, promoting hair growth and preventing further hair loss. It can, in some cases, also cause hair regrowth.
How long does Propecia take to work?
It can take a while to see any results when taking Propecia, but most men see some improvement in 3 to 6 months. It’s best when taken long-term, and will only work for as long as you take it for. So, once you stop taking it, the effects of Propecia will slowly be reversed in around 9 to 12 months.
How effective is Propecia?
Research shows that finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia, is effective for 90% of men. After 5 years of treatment:
- 48% of these men rated their hair loss as improved
- 42% rated it unchanged, meaning no further loss had occurred
Will taking a higher dose be more effective?
No, taking a daily dose of the 1mg Propecia dose will not be more effective for hair loss and may increase the risk of side effects.
Finasteride is available as 5mg tablets but these are used to treat an enlarged prostate (benign prostate enlargement) and not hair loss. You must only take Propecia for hair loss exactly as you have been prescribed by a doctor.
How to take/use Propecia
Take 1 whole Propecia tablet each day, with or without food.
How much Propecia should I take?
You should take one 1mg tablet per day. Propecia will not work quicker or better if you take more than 1 tablet once a day.
How long do I need to take Propecia for?
You’ll usually need to take Propecia for a long time, usually several months or years. You should not stop taking Propecia unless your doctor tells you to.
What if I miss a dose of Propecia?
If you miss a dose of Propecia and it is:
- less than 6 hours since you were due to take it, take the missed dose as soon as you remember
- more than 6 hours since your last dose was due, skip the missed dose and take your next tablet at the usual time
You should only ever take Propecia tablets as prescribed by your doctor.
What if I take too much Propecia?
If you take more Propecia tablets than you should, you must contact your doctor straight away.
What happens when I stop taking Propecia?
If you stop taking Propecia, your hair loss symptoms will usually come back within 9 to 12 months of stopping.
Where can I buy Propecia?
Propecia is a prescription-only medication which means you will need a doctor’s approval to obtain it. That means it is available with a private prescription or online from reputable services such as Superdrug Online Doctor, but you won’t be able to buy it over the counter at a pharmacy.
Can I buy Propecia online?
Yes, Propecia is available from Superdrug Online Doctor. It is important that you buy Propecia online from reliable and trusted services that are regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
To request Propecia from Superdrug Online Doctor:
- Fill out a brief health and lifestyle questionnaire.
- Order your preferred treatment and make payment.
- One of our doctors will review your order and questionnaire answers.
- If approved, your treatment will be posted to your address or made available for collection at your local Superdrug Pharmacy.
- If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with other treatment options.
Can I buy Propecia over the counter?
No, Propecia is not available over the counter. You will need a prescription from a doctor in order to obtain it.
Regaine and Alpecin are over-the-counter alternative hair loss treatments but they do not contain finasteride.
Can I get Propecia on the NHS?
No, Propecia and finasteride are not available on the NHS for hair loss. Instead, you will need a private prescription to obtain it.
Propecia side effects
Uncommon side effects of Propecia (affecting up to 1 in 100 people) include:
- low sex drive
- erectile dysfunction
- ejaculation problems or a decreased amount of semen
- low mood
Side effects of Propecia with unknown frequency include:
- feeling your heartbeat (palpitations)
- swelling or tenderness in the breasts
- changes to the way the liver works
- blood in the semen
- pain in the testicles
- difficulty getting an erection even after you’ve stopped taking Propecia
- low sex drive after you’ve stopped taking Propecia
- problems with ejaculating when stopping the treatment
- male infertility and/or poor quality of semen
- anxiety
- suicidal thoughts
- hypersensitivity, including rashes and swelling of the face/airway
How long do Propecia side effects last?
Propecia side effects are usually temporary and often subside as your body adjusts to the new medication. If you are concerned about any Propecia side effects, you should speak to your doctor for advice.
What to do if you get Propecia side effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should stop taking Propecia and get urgent medical attention:
- signs of an allergic reaction such as: swelling of your lips, face, tongue, and throat, difficulty swallowing, hives, and breathing difficulties
- depression
- any changes in breast tissue, such as lumps, pain, enlargement, or discharge
You can also report any side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Propecia warnings
Do not use Propecia if you are:
- allergic to any of the ingredients including finasteride
- a woman
- already taking finasteride or dutasteride used for prostate problems such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Talk to your doctor before you use Propecia if you are going to have a blood test to measure your prostate size called a PSA test as Propecia may affect the results.
Other medications and Propecia
Although Propecia doesn’t usually affect other medications, you must not take it if you are already taking finasteride or dutasteride.
Before taking Propecia, let your doctor know if you are taking any other prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications.
Propecia alternatives
There are several hair loss treatment options available as alternatives to Propecia.
At Superdrug Online Doctor, we offer:
A generic version of Propecia that contains 1mg of finasteride and works in the same way to prevent hair loss. It is a cost-effective alternative to Propecia 1mg tablets.
An over-the-counter hair loss treatment that contains minoxidil and is applied directly to the scalp to encourage hair growth.
A caffeine shampoo that's available over the counter without a prescription and is used every day. It works by activating and energising hair growth at the roots.
FAQs
Is Propecia safe?
Propecia is generally considered safe and can be taken for a long time. Many people can take it for months or years without having any problems.
Some people have reported repeated side effect symptoms after stopping finasteride, this is called Post-finasteride syndrome. Post-finasteride syndrome may include repeated bothersome symptoms such as:
- sexual side effects — low libido, erectile dysfunction
- metabolic side effects — high blood pressure or cholesterol
- mental or neurological side effects — anxiety, depression or fatigue
- physical side effects — swelling of hands or feet or weight gain
In rare cases, there have been reports of men developing breast cancer when they take finasteride. If you are concerned or develop any lumps, pain, or swelling in the chest area or discharge from your nipples, you should contact your doctor.
Does Propecia grow hair?
The active ingredient in Propecia, finasteride, works by lowering the amount of DHT in the scalp which can increase hair growth. A 48-week-long trial assessing the effect of Propecia on the hair growth cycle found that Propecia improved the growth-to-resting phase ratio by 47%, suggesting that it promotes hair growth.
Can women take Propecia?
No, women should not take Propecia or finasteride. It will not work in women experiencing hair loss.
Please also note that finasteride poses a risk to pregnant women. Exposure to finasteride can cause birth defects.
Is Propecia better than finasteride?
Propecia and finasteride contain the same active ingredient, so they work in the same way and have the same effects. The difference is Propecia is a branded version of finasteride, and is likely to be more expensive than generic finasteride. At Superdrug Online Doctor, we can prescribe both Propecia and finasteride.
Can you take Propecia for life?
Yes, finasteride is generally considered safe for long-term use and many people take it for years without any problems. If you are concerned about potential long-term side effects of finasteride, please discuss this with your doctor.
Sources
- About finasteride, NHS [accessed January 2025]
- Common questions about finasteride, NHS [accessed January 2025]
- Finasteride, NICE [accessed January 2025]
- How and when to take finasteride, NHS [accessed January 2025]
- Propecia 1 mg Film-Coated Tablets, emc [accessed January 2025]