Finasteride And Minoxidil: Can They Be Used Together For Best Results?

Written by the UPGUYS Editorial Team

Published on March 11, 2022

Have you ever thought of ordering finasteride? By age 35, 40 percent of men will have experienced some form of hair loss or male pattern balding.

But did you know that there are combination treatments available that can stop hair loss in its tracks?

Fortunately, we now have excellent medications that work to treat hair loss in a large proportion of patients. Even better, combining these treatments seems to work better than some individual treatments alone.

This article will walk you through everything you need to know about the chance and results of taking finasteride vs. minoxidil or a combination of both for hair loss.

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Table of contents:

What Is Finasteride?

Before diving into the mechanism of action of finasteride vs. minoxidil, let's look at the problem that underlies hereditary male pattern baldness.

The major factors that drive this problem are both genetic factors and levels of a hormone found in males called DHT.

DHT is a form of testosterone that causes hair loss on the scalp by signalling hormonal changes in the hair follicles.

When DHT is around, the hairs that grow out of the follicles start to become smaller and smaller in diameter. They also grow to be shorter in length and lighter in colour.

This results in overall thinning of the hair, and ultimately the hair may fall out. When this happens in large quantities, men develop receding hairlines and baldness.

How Does Finasteride Work?

Finasteride works by directly combating the effects of DHT. For your purposes as a patient, you can think about finasteride as getting in the way of the expected effects of DHT on the follicles.

Unfortunately, finasteride is not a cure for hair loss, so men who stop taking the drug will resume their hair loss after.

But the great news is that the ingredients in finasteride do not interfere with those in minoxidil. This means that as a patient, you can safely take them simultaneously for the best effect.

Finasteride is not a cure for hair loss, so men who stop taking the drug will resume their hair loss after.

How Does Finasteride Help With Hair Loss: Does It Really Work?

Three Phase III clinical trials studied finasteride in men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern balding). Some patients received finasteride 1mg for a designated period of time, while others received a placebo.

All three studies showed significant improvement in hair growth. They also found a slowing in the progression of hair loss. Men who received a placebo continued to show significant hair loss.

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What Is Minoxidil?

Minoxidil also goes by the brand name Rogaine. It is applied directly to the hair follicles twice a day as a formulated solution.

It works by directly stimulating the hair follicles that have shrunken. It also promotes increased blood flow to the scalp, nourishing the follicles and developing them. This breathes new life into the hair growth cycle and helps to support thicker hair.

Read more: Finasteride Before And After

How Does Minoxidil Help With Hair Loss: Does It Really Work?

Similar to finasteride, minoxidil has been well-studied in patients with androgenetic alopecia. The results of these studies show that consistent use of minoxidil is associated with improvement of hair loss in a majority of men.

Different five vs two percent solutions have been studied, with five percent solutions working more effectively but also including greater a side effect profile.

Minoxidil works by directly stimulating the hair follicles that have shrunken. It also promotes increased blood flow to the scalp, nourishing the follicles and developing them.

Finasteride vs. Minoxidil: Dosages and Side Effects

If you want to maximize the chances of preventing hair loss, you need to see a physician. They may help direct you towards the most successful treatments based on your pattern and rate of hair loss.

For patients who start taking minoxidil and finasteride, you can develop a routine that only requires minutes out of your day.

Most patients will take 1 mg dose of finasteride by mouth once a day. This is a prescription medication that you will need to get from your doctor.

Then, the patient can use a 2% minoxidil foam and apply it to their scalp two times per day.

Some men also like to include an optional caffeine shampoo or another hair supplement in addition.

Because of the rate of hair growth, most patients will not notice benefits until a few months of treatment have gone by.

Side effects for both are typically mild. Predominant side effects of finasteride occur in a small proportion of patients and include impotence, decreased libido, ejaculatory disorders, and dizziness or weakness. Similarly, minoxidil causes minimal side effects, including acne, redness, or swelling at the application site. 

Read more: The Finasteride Cost In Canada

How To Get Best Results From Finasteride And Minoxidil

A combination regimen of finasteride and minoxidil often results in the best outcomes.

Combining minoxidil and finasteride to build the basis of your treatment is a fantastic plan. You can use both of these drugs in combination safely and even add in other hair supports such as caffeine shampoo. Each of these agents increases your chance of successful results.

A finasteride and minoxidil combination is usually most successful during the early stages of hair loss. Men in their 20s and 30s are most likely to see the greatest benefit.

A combination regimen of finasteride and minoxidil often results in the best outcomes.

Read more: Finasteride vs Dutasteride

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Using Finasteride And Minoxidil Together For Hair Loss: Should You Do It?

Should you use finasteride and minoxidil together?

When you are first looking into treatments for male pattern baldness, it can be overwhelming without knowing where to start. However, finasteride and minoxidil are two good treatments to start with.

Finasteride vs. minoxidil each has different advantages for patients. Both of these medications have proved to be effective in a large proportion of patients in clinical studies.