# Finasteride

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/finasteride/

7 people recommended Finasteride in Hacker News comments, 3 had mixed feelings and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 12 months, in 6 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

These are opinions from Hacker News comments, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor.

**Verdict:** People recommend it for hair regrowth and slowing loss, often with minoxidil. Critics cite side effects, including hormonal ones, and some persisting after stopping.

Summary written by Claude from 17 comments.

## Why people recommend it

- Helps regrow hair and stop shedding (4 comments in the sample): "I saw a friend who went bald at 28 get all of his hair back from Minoxidil + finasteride" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46439581)) "Many people have success regrowing hair on bald spots with minoxidil and/or finasteride." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46440911)) "I am now on Minoxidil and Finasteride, with no creatine, and no longer have shedding." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48348820))
- Few side effects for long-term users (3 comments in the sample): "Even oral 1mg finasteride has basically the same side effect profile after 1 year as placebo" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46150767)) "I've been taking it without significant side effects for ~15 years" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49314092)) "millions of people take it without any issue, myself included" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48389906))

## What people warn about

- Risks needing close monitoring (3 comments in the sample): "There are definitely less risks in not taking finasteride and minoxidil." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46070974)) "enough to warrant vigilant monitoring and titration" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49313720)) "there are risks associated with these unfortunately" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46070672))
- Sexual and hormonal side effects (2 comments in the sample): "only problem is that it castrates you chemicallym" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49313575)) "Finasteride can make you have man-boobs, it’s a known side effect" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46440929))
- Side effects, some persisting after stopping (2 comments in the sample): "some users report persistent side effects even years after stopping the medication" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49313819)) "I think the finasteride side effects sound too much for me to handle." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48389702))

## What people recommend instead

- [Minoxidil](https://hackerapproved.com/p/minoxidil/): 5 recommend, 1 mixed, 1 criticize

## The badge

A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged.

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Finasteride", https://hackerapproved.com/p/finasteride/ (7 recommend, 3 mixed, 6 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 3 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.