Topical Finasteride 0.3% + Minoxidil 6% Spray Medication Overview
Following consultation, a You Health provider determined that Topical Finasteride + Minoxidil Spray is medically appropriate and necessary for your treatment.
This medication overview contains information regarding the medication that was prescribed to you including but not limited to: ingredient information, interactions, side effects, instructions for use, and other important information you should know prior to starting it.
The male-pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) treatment that you have been prescribed is designed to help prevent hair loss and promote new hair growth in cisgender men, trans men, and trans women. It is a topical treatment alternative to oral finasteride that emerging research studies have shown is a safe and effective option to treat male-pattern hair loss.
Unlike oral finasteride, topical finasteride + minoxidil spray is a compounded product and has not been approved by the FDA. It is only available if a healthcare provider has determined that this treatment is medically appropriate for you after an online consultation with a medical provider through the Hims platform.
Do not use other topical minoxidil products while you are using the Topical finasteride 0.3% + minoxidil 6% spray.
Age: 18+
Are there any precautions that I should know about while using this topical medication?
Individuals who are pregnant (due to the possibility of absorption of finasteride and the subsequent potential risk to a male fetus), individuals who have the ability to become pregnant, individuals who are breastfeeding, and individuals under the age of 18 should not handle this medication and should not come into contact with the site of medication application (your scalp) after the medication has been applied. If they do, they should immediately clean the site of contact on their skin with soap and water.
- Minoxidil is suspected to be toxic to cats and dogs. Please do not allow cats, dogs, or other pets to ingest this medication or to come into contact with the treatment site after the medication has been applied.If these occur, consult your pet's veterinarian.
Do not use this topical medication if any of the following apply to you:
- You are currently taking oral finasteride for hair loss or for treatment of an enlarged prostate (Propecia®, Proscar®). Oral finasteride and topical finasteride + minoxidil spray cannot be used at the same time
- You are currently taking other medications in the same class as finasteride (5-alpha reductase inhibitors: dutasteride, Avodart®, Jalyn®)
- You are allergic to finasteride, minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine®), or any of the inactive ingredients in Topical Finasteride + Minoxidil Spray. Inactive ingredients include: propylene glycol, citric acid and ethyl alcohol.
- You are allergic to any of the ingredients of topical finasteride + minoxidil
- You have chronic liver disease
- You are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- You are younger than 18 years of age
- You have a history of breast cancer
- You have a history of prostate cancer
How do I use this topical medication?
- This medication should be used once a day: in the morning or at bedtime. In the evening, apply the medication 30 minutes to 1 hour before you go to bed
- Apply a total of 4 sprays of the medication to cover the area of hair loss on the scalp. If you have multiple areas affected by hair loss, you should disperse the 4 sprays across those areas. Gently massage the medication into the scalp with your fingers. Carefully blot any excess medication to avoid it running onto your face.
- Remove any excess medication that gets on your face with gentle soap and water. Hair can grow anywhere on the skin that the medication comes into contact with after repeated use.
- Make sure to wash your hands with soap immediately after you apply the medicine.
- Do not get your hair wet for at least 4 hours after application of the medication
Are there any practical tips that I should know about while using this topical medication?
- To minimize breakage of new hair growth, brush your hair using a comb with widely spaced teeth
- Do not use a blow dryer immediately after applying your medication to help it dry faster. This may interfere with its absorption into your scalp
What happens if I occasionally forget to apply the topical medication?
- It’s ok to miss an application here or there but the medication only works if you use it as prescribed, once a day every day.
- It may help to put a reminder alarm on your phone for your morning and evening treatment applications.
Can I use this topical medication more than once a day?
- No. Using more than the recommended amount will not improve results and can increase the risk of side effects.
What should I expect during treatment with this medication?
- You may experience some mild hair shedding in the first 2-8 weeks after starting this medication. This is normal and means that the medication is working.
- You may experience some scalp irritation (e.g., itching, redness, stinging, flaking) when you first start using the medication. These symptoms are typically mild and short-lived.
- You should start to see improvement in hair growth after 3-6 months of use. If there is no improvement after 6 months of use, please contact a medical provider through the Hims platform.
What happens when I stop using this topical medication?
- You may lose the benefit that you gained from the treatment and it is likely that the normal hair loss process will resume.
What are the common side effects of this topical medication?
You may experience side effects with this medication. These side effects are typically mild and go away with time and regular use:
- Itching
- Redness
- Irritation
- Burning sensation
- Contact dermatitis
- Dry, & flaky scalp
If you develop any of the following symptoms, please stop using this topical medication and contact your medical provider right away:
- Chest pain
- Rapid heart beat
- Faintness or dizziness
- Sudden & unexplained weight gain
- Swelling of hands or feet
- Breast tenderness/enlargement
- Unwanted facial hair growth
- Sexual dysfunction (e.g., low libido, erectile dysfunction, decreased volume of ejaculate)
- Symptoms of depression
- No scalp hair regrowth after 6 months of use
- Severe scalp irritation
These are not all of the possible side effects of topical finasteride + minoxidil spray. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Medication disposal
If you no longer need your medication, the best way to dispose of most types of old, unused, unwanted, or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately. You can use the DEA DIVERSION CONTROL DIVISION LOOKUP to find your nearest drug disposal site.
If no drug take back sites, locations, or programs are available in your area, and there are no specific disposal instructions (such as flushing) in the medication guide or package insert, you can visit FDA- Disposal of Unused Medicines for more information or follow these simple steps to dispose of most medicines in your trash at home:
- Mix medicines (liquid or pills; do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds;
- Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag;
- Throw away the container in your trash at home; and
- Delete all personal information on the prescription label of empty medicine bottles or medicine packaging, then trash or recycle the empty bottle or packaging
Accurate Information
Your provider has evaluated the specific health information you provided and is making recommendations based on it. If you forgot to provide or incorrectly provided the information your provider may misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions that you may have which could affect our recommendation for treatment. If you need to clarify or update any information about your health you can message or call a provider through the Hims platform anytime.
Treatment Failure
This treatment is not 100% effective. It may not work or may only partially resolve the condition for which you are seeking treatment. If you do not see any signs of improvement or if you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, message a provider through the Hims platform anytime or contact your regular healthcare provider. If it is an emergency, call 911 or seek immediate help in-person.
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
There is also a risk that your provider will misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions that you may have which could affect the recommendation for treatment. The healthcare providers providing treatment through the Hims platform use evidence-based guidelines as well as clinical decision-making to try to minimize these risks.
Accepting or Declining Our Recommendation
Your provider is recommending this treatment for you because the potential benefits outweigh the risks in their estimation. You should evaluate this information and any input from your in-person healthcare team, and any other relevant information to decide if this treatment plan is appropriate for you. You are free to not follow the recommendations you received from the provider through the Hims platform.
Share with Your In-Person Healthcare Team
You can access your records anytime. We strongly recommend that you update your in-person healthcare team about any new medicines that you are taking or other changes in your health.
You can also ask questions anytime by messaging a provider through the Hims platform, and we are happy to help you share any information about your health with your in-person healthcare team.