Can You Take Finasteride 3 Times A Week?

Key Takeaways 

• How does Finasteride work? Finasteride helps slow pattern hair loss by reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the scalp. This slows down or partially reverses hair thinning and shortening which occurs in follicles that are sensitive to the effects of DHT.
  
• What is the most effective dose of Finasteride? The most effective dose is 1mg of Finasteride taken once daily. This is the dosage supported by evidence from multiple large-scale studies.
  
• Can it work at a reduced dosage? Taking finasteride three times a week (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) can help maintain the benefits of treatment for many men, thanks to its delayed clearance from the scalp, leaving it active and able to take effect for many days after the dose is taken. 
  
• Are there any benefits of a reduced regime? Using lower-frequency dosing may reduce the likelihood of experiencing side effects such as sexual dysfunction or mood changes.
  
• What are the other options available? Other medications such as Minoxidil, dutasteride, topical finasteride, or a combination of medicines can complement each other and lead to a better result. Make sure you discuss this with the doctor who is managing your hair loss before combining or changing medications.

Finasteride is a highly researched and widely prescribed treatment for male pattern hair loss. Most commonly, it is prescribed to be taken once daily; however, we recognise that with clinical judgement, sometimes it is prescribed to be taken three times total in a week. 

This has not been confirmed with official studies and is based on a doctor’s judgement; usually, to reduce the risk of side effects you may experience. 

A common question we hear is:

Can finasteride be taken three times a week instead of every day and still work? The short answer is yes, in many cases. 

Below, we will explore how finasteride works, what the evidence actually shows, and who may benefit from a reduced dosage. 

Can You Take Finasteride 3 Times A Week?

The most direct answer is yes, taking finasteride three times a week can be effective in treating male pattern hair loss. 

The standard FDA-approved dose is 1mg daily; however, many specialists now recommend a Monday-Wednesday-Friday (M-W-F) schedule based on the ability of finasteride to remain in the system for much longer than a day.

This approach allows most men to maintain their hair while significantly reducing the risk of side effects. 

It isn’t a weaker alternative; the key to getting the benefits of many of these hair loss medications is using them consistently. If side effects are reduced, then this can be a tactical way of managing your hair health more sustainably over the longer term. 

​The reason a thrice-weekly schedule works comes down to a concept called tissue binding. Finasteride only stays in your bloodstream for about 6 to 8 hours (its serum half-life), but it can remain locked onto the enzymes in your scalp for several days, continuing to have an effect even after it is cleared from your blood. 

Your scalp DHT levels remain lower in between days you take the tablet because the medication is still physically bound to the target enzymes.⁶

A landmark study by Roberts et al. demonstrated that a dose as low as 0.2mg daily (roughly equivalent to 1mg three times a week) is nearly as effective as the standard 1mg daily dose.⁴ A three times a week schedule would be equivalent to 0.43mg a day for comparison.

For the vast majority of men, this is more than enough to stop the progression of thinning.

At our clinic, we routinely advise patients on the appropriate Finasteride dosing based on their hair loss severity, ranging from twice weekly to alternate-day dosing, to help prevent hair loss and mitigate side effects.

Dr Roshan Vara, Hair Transplant Surgeon and Co-founder of The Treatment Rooms London

What is Finasteride?

Finasteride is a medication primarily used to treat male pattern baldness¹. Male pattern baldness is caused by a potent hormone derived from testosterone called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). 

In men genetically predisposed to hair loss, DHT binds to receptors in the hair follicles, which causes them to make thinner and shorter hairs over time. Eventually, they stop producing any hair at all. 

​Finasteride works by blocking the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into the follicle-shrinking DHT. By stopping the action of this enzyme, Finasteride lowers scalp DHT levels, helping to slow follicular miniaturisation and preserve existing hair growth.²

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Recommended Doses for Finasteride

The currently recommended dose of oral finasteride is 1mg per day, and its beneficial effects can only be seen with continuous use over a minimum of 3-6 months. In practice, the benefits will stop when you stop taking the finasteride. Your doctor will recommend an appropriate dose after they thoroughly assess your hair and scalp.

The main body of evidence from clinical trials, involving thousands of men, shows the most effective dose for male pattern hair loss to be 1mg a day.³ Most of the evidence concurs that this dose is the best in significantly slowing hair loss and helping to maintain hair density compared to a placebo.

When doses were compared, those below 0.2 mg were no more effective than a placebo, whereas doses of 0.2 mg or higher showed clear benefit. Increasing the dose beyond 1 mg did not improve results and only increased the likelihood of having side effects. From the best available evidence, 1 mg offers the best balance of effectiveness and safety.⁴

Long-term studies lasting up to five years further back up this claim, showing that 1mg a day markedly reduces the risk of ongoing visible hair loss with continued use.⁵

Why Do People Consider Taking Finasteride Less Often?

There are a few reasons why a patient might want to take finasteride on a reduced schedule, including:

• Concern about potential side effects like reduced libido and mood changes
  
• Wanting the lowest effective dose
  
• Long-term commitment anxiety
  
• Previous side effects on daily dosing

This has led to growing interest in reduced or intermittent dosing, such as taking finasteride three times a week.

Alternatives to Finasteride

Minoxidil

This is a topical medication, available over-the-counter in 2% and 5% formulations, applied directly to the scalp to stimulate hair growth and slow hair loss. Minoxidil works by encouraging hair to enter the active growth phase of the hair cycle.

Similar to finasteride, minoxidil must be used consistently in order to see the benefits, and its effects can also take several months to become noticeable.

Dutasteride

Dutasteride is another oral medication, in the same class as finasteride. It works similarly to finasteride by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, but places a more complete block on the enzyme’s function. Studies have shown that dutasteride may lead to greater hair growth than finasteride.⁷ However, it also maintains a similar side effect profile.

Combining Finasteride With Other Medications

It is possible to achieve a greater result if you combine finasteride with other hair loss treatments, such as minoxidil. This can enhance the overall effectiveness as it targets different mechanisms that produce pattern baldness. Hair loss is caused by a combination of factors, and so, by combining treatments, you are effectively combating hair loss using a similar layered approach. 

For example, finasteride reduces DHT levels, while minoxidil improves the growth of hair follicles. People often find that using both medications together ends up producing better results than using either one alone. You can read more about this in our article on taking Finasteride with Minoxidil. 

Topical finasteride is an option that can be applied directly to the scalp. Topical finasteride can be as effective as oral finasteride in reducing hair loss and promoting hair growth. It also minimises systemic absorption and directly targets the scalp, thereby reducing whole body side effects such as sexual dysfunction. 

Conclusion 

Taking finasteride 3 times a week (or at a lower/staggered dose) is an option if you prefer to minimise side effects while still managing to reduce your pattern baldness progressing further. If you are thinking about making the change, make sure to talk it through with your doctor first. 

If you choose to stop taking finasteride, your hair will return to how it was before starting the medication. If you’re concerned about finasteride’s side effects, discuss your options with a healthcare professional. You can often consider alternatives such as the topical form of finasteride or other hair loss treatments such as minoxidil. It is best to be fully informed, so you can make the right choice for you.

References 

1. Zito PM, Bistas KG, Patel P, Syed K. Finasteride. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. Updated 28 Feb 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513329/

2. McClellan KJ, Markham A. Finasteride: a review of its use in male pattern hair loss. Drugs. 1999 Jan;57(1):111–26. doi:10.2165/00003495-199957010-00014. PubMed PMID: 9951956. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9951956/ 

3. Kaufman KD, Olsen EA, Whiting D, Savin R, DeVillez R, Bergfeld W, Price VH, Van Neste D, Roberts JL, Hordinsky M, Shapiro J, Binkowitz B, Gormley GJ; Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group. Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998 Oct;39(4 Pt 1):578–89. doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(98)70007-6. PubMed PMID: 9777765. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9777765/

4. Roberts JL, Whiting DA, Van Neste D, Dunton CG, Bergfeld WF, Gormley GJ, et al. Clinical dose-ranging studies with finasteride, a type 2 5α-reductase inhibitor, in men with male pattern hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 Aug;41(2 Pt 1):227–33. doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(99)70144-7. PubMed PMID: 10495375. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10495375/

5. Kaufman KD, Rotonda J, Shah AK, Meehan AG. Long-term treatment with finasteride 1 mg decreases the likelihood of developing further visible hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss). Eur J Dermatol. 2008 Jul-Aug;18(4):400–6. doi:10.1684/ejd.2008.0436. PubMed PMID: 18573712. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18573712/

6. Drake L, Hordinsky M, Fiedler V, Swinehart J, Unger WP, Cotterill PC, et al. The effects of finasteride on scalp skin and serum androgen levels in men with androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1999 Oct;41(4):550–4. PubMed PMID: 10495374. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10495374/

7. Almudimeegh A, AlMutairi H, AlTassan F, AlQuraishi Y, Nagshabandi KN. Comparison between dutasteride and finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in male and female androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review. Dermatol Reports. 2024 Apr 12;16(4):9909. PMCID: PMC11694415; PubMed PMID: 39749123. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11694415/