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Hair Loss Philippines
Crown and vertex / Treatment

Finasteride (oral)

Also called Propecia, Proscar, Stercia, fin

gamot sa kalbo, pampatubo Taglish glossary

The best-studied pill for male pattern loss. Works while you take it.

Evidence
Strong
Status in PH
Rx
Typical monthly cost
₱1,800 a month
Where it acts
CrownHairlineMid-scalp
Time to see results
3 to 6 months to stop loss; 12 months to judge regrowth

Finasteride blocks the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that shrinks follicles in male pattern hair loss. The labelled hair loss dose is 1mg a day[1]. In the two-year trials that led to approval, most men kept their hair count steady or gained hair, compared with continued loss on placebo[2].

In the PH, many people buy generic 5mg tablets, which are made for prostate enlargement (BPH). That is why so many "finasteride 5mg" searches are about BPH, not hair. Users on r/PhHairloss report splitting 5mg tablets to save money; we describe that as observed behaviour only. Talk to a doctor before doing this.

Sexual side effects are the top fear. They were reported by a small minority in trials and usually resolved after stopping[2]. Read our side effects guide for the full picture, including mood and fertility.

Read the full guideAll side effectsPH price table

What people worry about

In readers' own words, from Filipino Reddit threads. Then our answer.

Finasteride and sex drive“Nakaka-apekto ba sa manoy?”

In the main finasteride 1mg trials, sexual side effects were reported by a small minority of men, only slightly more often than with placebo, and most resolved after stopping. Expecting side effects can itself cause them (the nocebo effect). ED means erectile dysfunction: trouble getting or keeping an erection. If it happens, see a doctor rather than adjusting the dose yourself.[2][1][3]

Read the full answer
Nakakabaog ba?“Nakakabaog ba ang minoxidil o finasteride?”

Minoxidil has no known effect on fertility; that one is a myth. Finasteride can lower semen volume and, in some men, sperm counts, which reversed after stopping in studies. Men actively trying to conceive should raise this with their doctor.[5][1][6]

Read the full answer
Mood and gynecomastia“Brain fog and lower sex drive really hit me.”

Depression and, rarely, suicidal thoughts are listed on the finasteride label from post-marketing reports, as is breast tenderness or enlargement. These are uncommon, but they are real. Stop and get medical help if your mood changes or you notice a breast lump or tenderness.[1][8][9]

Read the full answer
Stop and you lose it“Babalik ba sa kalbo pag tinigil?”

Yes, for pattern hair loss both finasteride and minoxidil work only while you use them. Hair gained is usually lost over several months after stopping. That is why the lifetime cost matters more than the first bottle.[1][10][11]

Read the full answer
Is it fake?“Fake ba yung Kirkland sa Shopee?”

Fakes are a real risk, and the PH FDA has issued advisories against unregistered minoxidil and finasteride products. Check the product on the FDA verification portal, buy from a pharmacy or an official store, and inspect seals, batch and expiry. The home bleach test cannot rule out a diluted fake.[12][13][14]

Read the full answer

Prices and where to buy

Finasteride (oral): reported PH price
ItemPricePer monthSource
Stercia finasteride 1mg, Mercury Drug₱60per tablet₱1,800User report
Finasteride (oral): reported PH pricePrices checked October 2026

Sold at: Mercury Drug, Watsons, TGP, Generika, Telehealth brands.

Prices checked October 2026

Related on the map

Minoxidil (topical)

OTC

Also called Regroe, Rogaine, Kirkland minoxidil

The first-line topical for men and women. Expect a shed before growth.

Strong₱600 to ₱900/mo

Topical finasteride

Rx

Also called finasteride spray, fin solution, topical fin

A scalp-applied option with lower blood levels. Not side-effect-free.

ModeratePrice TBC

Dutasteride

Rx

Also called Avodart, Dutarid, dut

A stronger DHT blocker used off-label when finasteride is not enough.

ModeratePrice TBC

More in Crown and vertex.

Questions people ask

Is finasteride available in the Philippines?

Yes. Branded 1mg finasteride and generic 5mg tablets are sold in PH pharmacies, and both require a prescription. See where to buy and prices.

Is finasteride 5mg the same as 1mg?

Same drug, different dose and purpose. 5mg is labelled for prostate enlargement; 1mg is the labelled hair loss dose[1]. Ask a doctor which is right for you.

This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor or dermatologist before starting any prescription treatment.

Citations

  1. 1Propecia (finasteride) prescribing information. US FDA label via DailyMed.
  2. 2Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1998.
  3. 3Finasteride 5 mg and sexual side effects: how many of these are related to a nocebo phenomenon?. J Sex Med, 2007.
  4. 4Side effects of finasteride. r/PhHairloss. User reports, not medical evidence.
  5. 5The effect of 5alpha-reductase inhibition with dutasteride and finasteride on semen parameters and serum hormones in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2007.
  6. 6Minoxidil infertility myth corrected. r/beautyph. User reports, not medical evidence.
  7. 730M possible male pattern baldness: derma or endo?. r/PhHairloss. User reports, not medical evidence.
  8. 8Beware po sa side effects ng finasteride. r/PhHairloss. User reports, not medical evidence.
  9. 9From oral fin to topical fin. r/PhHairloss. User reports, not medical evidence.
  10. 10Minoxidil topical solution 5% drug facts label. US OTC label via DailyMed.
  11. 11Lifelong minoxidil discussion. r/deinfluencingPH. User reports, not medical evidence.
  12. 12FDA Advisory No. 2024-0575-A: unregistered Hair Tonic 20 Minoxidil + Finasteride. Food and Drug Administration Philippines, 2024.
  13. 13FDA warns public vs unregistered hair regrowth product. SunStar Manila, 2026.
  14. 14FDA Philippines product verification portal. Food and Drug Administration Philippines.
  15. 15Counterfeit Kirkland minoxidil warning. r/tressless. User reports, not medical evidence.
  16. 16Paranoid: possible fake finasteride. r/PhHairloss. User reports, not medical evidence.
  17. 17Stercia finasteride 1mg (prescription required). Watsons Philippines.

Status tag key: Prescription (Rx).