Finasteride is one of the most widely used hair restoration products for male pattern baldness. More than two-thirds of International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) members recommend using 1mg of Finasteride daily for hair loss [1].
Unfortunately, Finasteride is known to have a multitude of side effects, some of which impact sexual function and performance. As a result, some men are forced to choose between a healthy sex life and maintaining their hair.
To combat this, you might consider taking Finasteride and Viagra simultaneously. But is this drug combination safe and effective?
Here, you’ll learn why Finasteride and Viagra are used together to treat hair loss and sexual dysfunction, and whether it’s the right treatment combination for you.
Finasteride is a drug that blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production in the body. DHT binds to receptors in your hair follicles, causing them to miniaturise and stop producing hair. Blocking DHT production stops this process taking place, so your follicles can continue to produce healthy hair.
In addition to treating male pattern hair loss, Finasteride is also used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a medical condition where patients suffer from the effects of an enlarged prostate gland.
Blocking hormone production can also have unwanted sexual side effects. For example, Finasteride can cause erectile dysfunction [2].
These adverse sexual effects are rare, affecting just 1.3% of patients taking Finasteride [3]. However, they are a very real concern for some men who may seek other medications that help deal with these side effects, such as Viagra.
Viagra is a brand-name drug that is approved to treat erectile dysfunction. Viagra, which contains the active ingredient sildenafil, increases blood flow to your penis, which helps you get and maintain an erection when you’re sexually aroused.
As Viagra is approved to treat erectile dysfunction, some men use it alongside Finasteride. Other medications, such as Cialis (active ingredient tadalafil) and Levitra (active ingredient vardenafil), can also treat erectile dysfunction and are sometimes preferred as they tend to have fewer side effects.
You might also choose to use Finasteride and Viagra to tackle hair loss and erectile dysfunction if they arise separately. However, if you have pre-existing problems with sexual performance, Finasteride may not be the most suitable hair loss drug to use, as it can exacerbate the issue.
There are currently no known drug interactions between Finasteride and Viagra. That means it’s theoretically safe to combine these treatments without causing adverse effects.
However there are very few studies that prove the safety and efficacy of using Viagra to tackle the side effects of Finasteride.
A study found Viagra could successfully treat erectile dysfunction in men experiencing benign prostate enlargement (BPE), which is often treated with a Finasteride 5mg dose [4]. Although this study doesn’t link Viagra directly with Finasteride, BPE doesn’t typically cause erectile dysfunction; it is a side effect of treatment [5]. So Viagra may help with erectile dysfunction related to Finasteride treatment.
Another study from Northwestern University found that 1.4% of long-term Finasteride or Dutasteride users developed persistent erectile dysfunction, which generally didn’t respond to treatment with Viagra [6]. However, these results don’t necessarily apply to those with short-term problems with erectile dysfunction.
There are other side effects of Finasteride in addition to those that impact sexual function. These won’t be neutralised with Viagra use, so you may still experience [3]:
In addition, Viagra has its own side effects, including [7]:
It’s up to you to decide whether these side effects are worth the risk. In all cases, remember that the risk of serious side effects is very small, and usually stops when you stop taking the medication.
Other medications perform a similar function to Viagra with fewer side effects. Cialis and Levitra, for example, have been shown to have fewer side effects with similar efficacy to Viagra [8-9]. So some men may prefer these options.
Viagra may be an effective treatment for Finasteride-related erectile dysfunction. However, combining these treatments may not be the right course of action for everyone. For example, if you have a pre-existing problem with erectile dysfunction, Finasteride may make the problem worse.
It’s a good idea to get an assessment with a qualified hair loss clinic to check whether Finasteride is the right treatment for you. If you’re worried about side effects, there are plenty of Finasteride alternatives you can try that don’t have any known impact on sexual function. These include:
These are just a few of the ways you can tackle your hair loss. If you’re concerned about the potential side effects of Finasteride therapy, book a free consultation at the Wimpole Clinic to discuss your hair restoration options.
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