How to Get Finasteride: Is It Over the Counter?

Finasteride is a well-known and well-studied hair loss drug that is a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor used to treat male pattern hair loss and promote new hair growth. But is finasteride over the counter? The short answer is no, you can’t just walk into a drugstore and buy finasteride — you’ll need a prescription. However, getting a finasteride prescription can be quick and easy if you qualify, thanks to telehealth services (like Hims).

Below, we’ve covered how to start the process of gaining access to a finasteride prescription and what other treatments you may want to consider.

Finasteride is not available over the counter in the U.S. It’s only available with a prescription.

However, it can be very easy and inexpensive to get a prescription — you don’t even have to deal with waiting room times, as we offer online consultations with healthcare professionals (more on that soon).

If you see finasteride available without a prescription, you should not trust it — it is illegal to sell prescription drugs over the counter, and it may be harmful to your health.

If you want to get finasteride over the counter because you think it will be more convenient or affordable, you might be pleased to know that our finasteride prescriptions start at $22 a month.

Extensive research shows that finasteride (the active ingredient in brand name drugs, Propecia® and Proscar®) is effective at treating androgenic alopecia, so it’s a solid pick among hair loss treatments.

In a 1999 clinical study, patients given 1 milligram of oral finasteride daily had a noticeable increase in hair growth. Forty-eight percent of participants taking finasteride had an increase at one year, and 66 percent noticed an improvement at two years, compared to just seven percent of those given a placebo.

Finasteride helps block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — an androgen responsible for male pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia. DHT can shrink hair follicles and, over time, cause hair thinning.

Finasteride is also effective in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — a condition often referred to as enlarged prostate. BPH is sometimes associated with problems related to erectile dysfunction, ejaculation, prostate cancer, and changes in sex drive.

Using it against medical recommendations, however, can increase your risk of potential finasteride side effects, as is the case with most prescription treatment options.

For more detailed information on how finasteride works, check out our guides on how long it takes finasteride to start working and what you can expect from finasteride results.

Because finasteride requires a prescription, you must see a healthcare provider. But don’t worry — this process doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. 

During a consultation, your healthcare provider might ask you questions like:

• Where are you experiencing hair thinning?

• How long have you been dealing with hair thinning?

• Have you tried any other hair loss treatments?

• Are you aware of possible side effects?

If you’re starting to see the signs of male pattern baldness (like a receding hairline or overall thinning) and want to take finasteride, there are a few options for getting a prescription:

Schedule a visit with your primary doctor. If you don’t mind an in-person appointment, visit your primary care physician (PCP) or healthcare provider. They can speak with you about your hair and scalp issues and, if appropriate, write a prescription for finasteride.

See a dermatologist. Take it a step further and see a specialist. Dermatologists specialize in skin, nails, and hair, including conditions like male pattern baldness. A dermatologist may even have experience in very specific disorders of the hair and scalp. They’ll be able to prescribe finasteride or recommend a combination of hair loss treatments to best help regrow your hair based on your specific hair conditions.

Try an online consultation. Thanks to telehealth (yep, like Hims), it’s more convenient than ever to get a prescription. Hims offers access to finasteride online, following a consultation with a healthcare provider who can decide if it’s the right treatment option for your needs. 

If prescribed, finasteride will be delivered to your home address in discreet packaging. Your healthcare provider may also determine if combining another hair loss treatment could be helpful (more on that below). This option is a quick, convenient way to purchase finasteride if you’d prefer not to make an in-person appointment. 

While you need a prescription for finasteride, you can couple it with other effective over-the-counter hair loss treatments to stack the benefits. Talk to your healthcare provider about stacking the following options when you use finasteride:

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is the gold standard for treating hair loss. It helps improve blood flow to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. This medication has been used for decades to treat various hair loss types, including androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium. It’s easy to apply, FDA-approved, and available over the counter. 

Minoxidil is available in a few forms:

• Minoxidil foam. This 5% strength foam has been shown to significantly improve hair regrowth in various studies.

• Minoxidil solution. These 2% drops make it easy to target thinning patches or a widening part.

• Topical finasteride and minoxidil spray. This prescription medication, a two-in-one spray, combines finasteride with ultra-popular minoxidil. Research shows that minoxidil and finasteride work well together to stop hair loss caused by male pattern baldness. A 2020 systematic review found that the medications were more effective when used together than separately.

Thickening Shampoo and Conditioners

Using certain haircare products in the shower could also help. We’re talking:

• Volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Sometimes, hair can look flat because of oils that weigh strands down. Up your body and volume with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner for extra thickness and lift.

• Thickening shampoo with saw palmetto. A botanical extract from the palm berry plant, saw palmetto, has antiandrogenic properties that may help reduce hair loss. Though it may not be a cure for hair loss, it might be helpful to add a thickening shampoo (or other haircare products infused with saw palmetto) to your routine.

Biotin

A nutritional deficiency can influence the health of your hair. Biotin is a popular supplement linked to healthy hair and nails, but it’s typically only helpful if you’re not getting enough of it through your diet.

Rounding out your diet with biotin gummies might help your hair issues, but you should talk to your healthcare provider to find the right supplement for your needs.

While finasteride isn’t currently available over the counter in the United States, if a provider decides you’re a good match for the medication (and if you have male pattern hair loss, you most likely are), it’s easy to get a prescription.

Here are the key things to remember:

• Seek help sooner than later. If you see signs of thinning, don’t wait to make an appointment or get treatment. The sooner you develop a game plan, the better hair regrowth results you can expect to see.

• Make an appointment. Schedule an appointment with your local healthcare provider or dermatologist, or talk to a licensed healthcare provider online. They will identify the type of hair loss you’re experiencing, which can help better target the right treatment.

• Combine your options. To maximize their benefits, you may want to couple other proven hair loss treatments with finasteride. Try minoxidil, hair loss prevention shampoo, or biotin — all of which can be purchased over the counter.

Our guide to male pattern baldness explains how and why male hair loss happens, as well as what science-based treatments are available to help slow down, stop, or reverse hair loss.

Still unsure about getting a finasteride prescription? Read our article about when to start taking finasteride.

If you’re ready to take the next step in getting a finasteride prescription, start a hair consultation with a healthcare provider today.