Compare Supplements

1 mg once daily for male pattern hair loss (Propecia); 5 mg once daily for benign prostatic hyperplasia (Proscar). A prescription drug — use under a clinician.

Any time

Oral tablet (1 mg for hair, 5 mg for BPH)

Topical 2–5% solution or 5% foam applied to the scalp (men: 5% twice daily or once-daily foam; women: 2% twice daily or 5% foam once daily). Low-dose ORAL minoxidil is off-label and clinician-titrated, typically 0.25–5 mg once daily. A drug — not an approved supplement regimen.

Morning

Topical 5% foam/solution (OTC) for most; low-dose oral minoxidil under a clinician for poor topical responders

• Women who are or may become pregnant (handling crushed/broken tablets risks feminization of a male fetus)
• Children / adolescents
• Known hypersensitivity to finasteride

• PSA testing / prostate cancer screening
• Testosterone / anabolic androgens

• Pheochromocytoma (oral — vasodilator)
• Significant uncontrolled cardiovascular disease without clinician oversight (oral)
• Known hypersensitivity to minoxidil or vehicle (e.g., propylene glycol in some topicals)

• Other antihypertensives / vasodilators
• Guanethidine