When it comes to hair loss, some people will do everything they can to stop the progress of time and genetics. But others are concerned about the potential side effects of hair loss medications.
With those concerns in mind, it is important to weigh the options and talk to a doctor who specializes in hair restoration when considering hair loss medications like finasteride and dutasteride are worth the potential risks.
Is Hair Loss Medication Bad for You?
Hair loss medication can be very useful, but (like any medication) requires a consultation with a physician to discuss benefits and potential side effects. Every medication on the market comes with some degree of risk, even ones taken so routinely people think of them as safe. Every drug trial and study reports the likelihood of the side effects and lists them for consumers to consider.
According to the Georgetown Medical Review, the precise likelihood of having negative side effects due to taking hair loss medications are unclear. But they appear to resolve quickly once a person stops taking the medication.
That said, potential side effects do have to be discussed. The Georgetown Review study specifically looked at “the efficacy of 5-ARIs for treatment of men with AGA and the potential adverse effects on reproduction including sexual dysfunction, infertility, and teratogenicity.” Teratogenicity is the potential for medication to negatively impact a developing fetus.
While there is some evidence of the presence of teratogenic materials in the sperm of men who are using finasteride and dutasteride, the review suggests that the concentration is too low to have negative consequences for the fetus but agrees more study might be needed.
Can You Take Hair Loss Medications for a Prolonged Period of Time?
Yes and, in fact, that is one of the biggest considerations of using hair loss medications. This is not a “single-treatment and then you are done” type of medication. Most hair loss medications will require a long-term commitment, and the patient will need to carefully monitor their usage. Overuse or incorrect use of hair loss medications can adversely affect the scalp, lead to hair growth in unwanted areas, or cause the sexual dysfunction discussed earlier.
That said, the use of hair loss medications is an evolving science and getting better. The National Institutes of Health published a study in April 2025, indicating that improving diagnostic and genetic testing can help doctors tailor hair loss drugs use to the patient and their specific sub-form of alopecia.
“[I]nnovations in regenerative medicine and delivery systems for AGA treatments, alongside nanotechnology and 3D bioprinting, promise enhanced efficacy and personalization. This shift toward mechanism-targeted and individualized therapy is expected to improve outcomes for various alopecia subtypes.” With these targeted therapies, men and women can use hair loss medications to address their particular form of alopecia and not risk side effects from medications that will not help them.
Finasteride and dutasteride are particularly effective against age-related alopecia (so-called pattern baldness) but are ineffective against lichen planopilaris and other hair loss that results from damaged hair follicles. This is why a consultation with a hair loss physician is essential – to determine the cause of the hair loss and the right treatment for it.
Ask Precision Hair Restoration If Hair Loss Medication Is Right For You
If you are considering starting hair loss medication, reach out to the team at Precision Hair Restoration. We can help you determine what medication will be most effective against your hair loss and help you evaluate the potential hair growth against the potential side effects – depending on your type of hair loss and your personal priorities. Before you opt for hair loss medication, contact us today and let us help you decide what is best for you!
