Do You Need A Prescription For Topical Finasteride?

Ever since its approval in 1997, oral finasteride has been used to slow down hair loss and to also promote hair growth in men with male pattern baldness. 

However, its use comes with a trade-off in some men. As they’d have to deal with side effects like low sex drive and erectile dysfunction in order to grow back their hair and also stop further loss. 

To reduce these side effects, topical formulations were made. Since they are applied on the scalp, they are believed to have a better side effect profile compared to oral tablets. This article will let you know if you need a prescription for topical finasteride.

The only dosage form of finasteride approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is the oral tablet. All topical finasterides are not FDA-approved.  

They are also not illegal if prescribed and purchased because they are currently marketed as compounded medications. Topical finasteride has been shown to be just as effective as the oral dosage form in preventing hair loss. 

It has the added advantage of causing minimal side effects like scalp irritation, reddening, itching, and contact dermatitis.

Do You Need A Prescription For Topical Finasteride?

Yes, a prescription is required for topical finasteride just as the case with oral finasteride. The reason why you need a prescription is because the FDA hasn’t approved topical finasteride to be available over-the-counter like it’s the case with topical liquid or foam of minoxidil.

Instead, the drug is made available as a compounded medication. This means that topical finasteride is looked at as if the oral tablets were crushed and transformed into a liquid or gel form to be applied to the scalp. 

This is legal in pharmacy practice as there are times when the dosage form, strength, or multiple drugs have to be combined for a specific patient. So, going by this idea, you’d need to get a prescription for the tablets that will then be transformed into a topical finasteride.

Who Can Prescribe Topical Finasteride?

A prescription for topical or oral finasteride can be written by qualified health professionals like a dermatologist, general practitioner, primary care physician, or even your family doctor.

You may be assessed and questioned first to be sure that finasteride is the right treatment for you. If it’s not, other treatment options like hair transplant, use of combination drugs like finasteride and minoxidil, or hair loss supplements like Nutrafol can be recommended.

Always be sure that you are consistent with your drug. Most people have to take finasteride for at least 6 months before there are any noticeable improvements. Consistency and patience are key in hair loss treatment.

Final thoughts

Even though topical finasteride is not FDA-approved for treating hair loss, you still need a prescription to access it. This is usually easy to get as all you need is a physical or online session with a dermatologist, GP, or PCP.

References

• Ho CH, Sood T, Zito PM. Androgenetic Alopecia. [Updated 2022 Oct 16]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/
• Zito PM, Bistas KG, Syed K. Finasteride. [Updated 2022 Aug 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513329/
• Leavitt M, Perez-Meza D, Rao NA, Barusco M, Kaufman KD, Ziering C. Effects of finasteride (1 mg) on hair transplant. Dermatol Surg. 2005 Oct;31(10):1268-76, discussion 1276. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31202. PMID: 16188178.