Patient Satisfaction, Side Effects, And Other Reactions Reported By Adult Men Prescribed Compounded, Topical Finasteride Via A National Telehealth Platform: A Retrospective Analysis Of Real World Data

September 2025

Jessica Yu, Sachie Mochida, Michele Emery, Patrick J. Carroll, Justin Ko, Arash Mostaghimi

finasteride minoxidil androgenetic alopecia topical finasteride compounded finasteride Propecia Rogaine AGA

From the encyclopedia

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Studysummary In this large retrospective study, patients using compounded topical finasteride and minoxidil through a telehealth platform for male androgenetic alopecia reported high satisfaction and low incidence of side effects, with no need for higher care or treatment discontinuation due to adverse reactions.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This retrospective study analyzed data from 638,629 male patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) who were prescribed compounded, topical finasteride and minoxidil via a telehealth platform between April 2021 and April 2025. Of the 151,352 patients who completed a follow-up check-in, 80.4% reported satisfaction with the treatment, while only 2.7% experienced side effects. Additionally, 0.04% of all patients reported side effects or medication reactions through unsolicited messages. No patients required a higher level of care or discontinued treatment due to side effects. The study concludes that patients generally reported satisfaction and good tolerability with the treatment, suggesting the need for future randomized controlled trials to further assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of topical finasteride.

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Research cited in this study

9 / 9 results

Efficacy and Safety of Topical Finasteride Spray Solution in the Treatment of Chinese Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

research Efficacy and Safety of Topical Finasteride Spray Solution in the Treatment of Chinese Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

March 2025 in “Chinese Medical Journal”

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial found that a 24-week treatment with topical finasteride significantly increased hair growth and was well-tolerated in Chinese men with androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Topical Finasteride/Minoxidil Treatment for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Study Using Telemedical Data

research Patient-Reported Outcomes of Topical Finasteride/Minoxidil Treatment for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Retrospective Study Using Telemedical Data

May 2024 in “Journal of cosmetic dermatology”

This study found that topical finasteride mixed with minoxidil improved hair appearance and self-esteem in men with androgenetic alopecia, but it was not superior to oral finasteride and had lower treatment adherence.

research The Psychological Consequences of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review

1 citations , April 2022 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This review highlights that androgenetic alopecia significantly impacts psychological well-being and quality of life, emphasizing the need for integrated psychological support alongside dermatological treatment.

research Treatment Options for Androgenetic Alopecia: Efficacy, Side Effects, Compliance, Financial Considerations, and Ethics

17 citations , November 2021 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This review discusses treatment options for androgenetic alopecia, highlighting the need for personalized, evidence-based approaches but reports no new clinical results.

research Efficacy and Safety of Topical Finasteride Spray Solution for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Phase III, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

11 citations , October 2021 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study found that topical finasteride significantly increased hair count in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo while maintaining similar efficacy to oral finasteride but with lower systemic exposure and a reduced impact on serum DHT levels, potentially minimizing sexual side effects.

research Post-Finasteride Syndrome: An Emerging Clinical Problem

26 citations , December 2019 in “Neurobiology of Stress”

This review discusses adverse effects of 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, particularly persistent side effects such as post-finasteride syndrome, and highlights the need for further investigation.

research Controversies in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: The History of Finasteride

13 citations , September 2018 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This study reports that while topical minoxidil treatment showed a response in less than 40% of men after 24 weeks, oral finasteride stopped hair loss in over 80% of patients at 12 months; perceived sexual side effects of the latter may limit its use.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review

153 citations , March 2017 in “Endocrine”

This review examines recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of androgenetic alopecia, highlighting two major genetic risk loci, but does not report new clinical findings.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of 5% Topical Minoxidil Versus 2% Topical Minoxidil and Placebo in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

research A Randomized Clinical Trial of 5% Topical Minoxidil Versus 2% Topical Minoxidil and Placebo in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men

269 citations , August 2002 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that 5% topical minoxidil significantly increased hair regrowth and improved psychosocial perceptions of hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia compared to 2% topical minoxidil and placebo over 48 weeks.