What Are Combo Hair Loss and Erectile Dysfunction Pills? Combo Medications Finasteride and tadalafil are commonly combined hair loss and erectile dysfunction medications that are sold as a generic medication in capsule format. It includes two active ingredients: Finasteride 5 milligram (mg), a medication that prevents the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is linked to both an enlarged prostate and hair loss in men, from forming. The second ingredient is tadalfil 5 mg, a medication that increases blood flow to the penis.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295b45dc8a-0e1e-4317-b7b9-6e5a91eba52be60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762986533614-48a5-4b9a-b144-58f06fcbf901e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629446d6651-8b7d-4960-9e5f-af685a2569ff Using the drug to treat hair loss and erectile dysfunction is an off-label use, meaning the FDA hasn’t approved this medication as a hair loss–ED treatment. A brand-name combination was approved by the FDA in 2021 for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that causes an enlarged prostate — but not for treating male pattern baldness specifically. The brand name has since been discontinued, but the combination is still available in generic form.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295b45dc8a-0e1e-4317-b7b9-6e5a91eba52be60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292d265bae-9d2e-42f6-93d1-57a1227a05e4 It’s worth noting that the dosing for finasteride when used for hair loss alone is typically 1 mg daily, which is much less than the dose in the generic combination of finasteride and tadalafil.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d400c5b3-1d3c-4687-968b-569672b3d2a1 Combo pills for off-label hair loss and ED use are also available from compounding pharmacies (where a pharmacist concocts a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient) and branded telemedicine online platforms. You need a prescription from your doctor for the exact doses and combinations of medications, not just for the individual medications. These options are different from the traditional route of your primary care physician sending a prescription to a regular retail pharmacy. Several large chain pharmacies as well as numerous local pharmacies offer compounding services.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291ea664d3-433a-43c9-9f4c-e24e519ff0a2 “None of these are new medications — it’s the bundling that’s new,” says Jamin V. Brahmbhatt, MD , a urologist at Orlando Health and an assistant professor of urology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, Florida.
The Takeaway Combination medications like finasteride/tadalafil are approved to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but are sometimes used off-label to treat hair loss and erectile dysfunction. While finasteride and tadalafil are safe and effective medications on their own for FDA-approved conditions, there haven’t been large-scale clinical trials on their combined use for hair loss and ED. Potential side effects and risks include headache, back pain, potentially permanent changes in libido, erection, and ejaculation, and contamination and quality risks when using a compounded medication. If the convenience of a combination medication for these purposes is appealing, experts recommend discussing this option with a healthcare professional to ensure it’s right for you. People with a history of recent heart attack or who are taking nitrate medications are likely not candidates for this combination drug.
Do Dual-Action Pills Work? Do Combo Pills Work? Dual-action hair loss and erectile dysfunction medications like finasteride/tadalafil are generally taken once daily for up to six months.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296ede11be-727d-4a72-a322-dcf528979d60 Each of the medications in the combination works in the body in a different way. Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor that blocks an enzyme in blood vessel walls. Prescribed to treat ED and symptoms of BPH, tadalafil works by increasing blood flow.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299d92622d-a8ab-4e1e-b21d-7a1ffb500ce6 (It’s also available as the standalone brand-name medication Cialis.) Finasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, which blocks an enzyme found in the prostate and scalp, prescribed to treat BPH and male pattern hair loss . It works by preventing a type of testosterone production.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291d7bd0fe-e619-42be-abf1-184656f8ff40 (It’s also available as the standalone brand-name medication Propecia.) Landmark, older research has long shown that combination finasteride/tadalafil is effective for treating BPH, urinary symptoms, and coexisting erectile dysfunction.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b62a0625-3d09-45f7-b53f-da4954b47c86 One frequently cited, 26-week randomized, double-blind trial found that the combination of finasteride 5 mg/tadalafil 5 mg significantly improved lower urinary tract symptoms and ED in men who have prostate enlargement and other BPH-related issues in comparison to just finasteride alone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ac0cd74d-cc22-41dd-8d86-932228e78b00 Using this combination medication in its off-label manner — for ED and hair loss — may have gained traction when research into monotherapy (or the use of just one drug) for treating male pattern hair loss revealed some potential downsides. In a 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis, men taking 1 mg of finasteride for hair loss daily experienced a 1.66-fold increased risk of sexual dysfunction, compared with men who took a placebo (a pill with no medication in it).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f34912e4-c46a-4368-bbff-a8eb3692057f Tadalafil may counteract some of these sexual side effects.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299d92622d-a8ab-4e1e-b21d-7a1ffb500ce6 And in practice, this could address patient concerns. “Men often worry about sexual side effects from hair medications, so pairing it with tadalafil feels reassuring,” Dr. Brahmbhatt says.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762912ad2f2e-0d74-4c7e-ab3f-793344e018e5 Importantly, though, there aren’t any large-scale studies on tadalafil/finasteride for these purposes — and that type of clinical evidence would be required before experts could start to think about broadly recommending the combo drug in this way. “Most studies of this type of combination therapy focus on BPH patients using finasteride 5 mg — not the 1 mg dose used for hair loss,” Marmon says. “Well-designed trials specifically evaluating finasteride 1 mg plus tadalafil would strengthen evidence.”
What to Know Before You Try a Combination Hair Loss/ED Medication What to Know Before You Try If you’re seeking a combination medication like finasteride/tadalafil to treat hair loss and erectile dysfunction, note that you’ll often encounter these on telemedicine and online platforms geared toward men’s health or hair loss. But it’s better to work with your personal doctor to get a prescription rather than getting one from a website — just like with any other drug, your doctor can check for medication interactions and other health concerns thoroughly to make sure you’re getting a product that’s safe for you.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ccfac5e8-27bc-47fb-82c1-c6e6a918040f Here are a few tips to get started. Consult a healthcare professional. As a first step, Dr. Marmon recommends discussing your medical history, current medications (especially nitrates, alpha-blockers, blood pressure medications [antihypertensives] , and heart health with a physician (not someone from a telemedicine or other retail health website). “Be specific about hair loss patterns and any erectile dysfunction concerns,” she adds. Have a conversation to discuss your individual risks and potential medication interactions, and to review possible side effects. Discuss realistic expectations . This medication generally takes at least a month to show initial results, Marmon points out, and continuous use (up to six months) to maintain benefits.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b07745ba-c475-4c0b-ab37-4ada96dfaf03 Decide on the best treatment. Ask your clinician whether an FDA-approved combination medication (designed to treat BPH), separate medications, or a compounded medication would be more appropriate for your situation, Marmon suggests.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295a3379b1-3727-4471-b6f1-d61672898c28 Pricing and insurance coverage may play a role here. “Sometimes, combination medications are actually more affordable to get separately,” Dr. Malik says. Only use prescriptions from qualified pharmacies. “Ensure you are getting the medication(s) from a legitimate pharmacy — with a real prescription, clear dosing, and an easy way to reach a pharmacist/clinician. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Brahmbhatt says. This includes vetting online pharmacies thoroughly. Marmon recommends verifying whether a compounding pharmacy is accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy or the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board , and checking your state’s board of pharmacy website for complaints. “Avoid services making unrealistic claims about results or safety,” she adds.
Are They Safe? Side Effects and Risks As with any medication, there are potential side effects and risks to be aware of. Potential Side Effects, Risks, and Complications Each medication has been around for years, establishing a solid history of side effects, along with potential risks and complications. For finasteride, side effects include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f3c8b67c-e2d5-4ebc-8d7c-314cda6302c7 Erectile dysfunction Decreased libido Ejaculation problems Depression Breast tissue changes Rash , itching , or hives In addition, some men may experience persistent ED, even after stopping finasteride. Other risks and complications with finasteride include the development of a rapidly growing type of prostate cancer or breast cancer .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f3c8b67c-e2d5-4ebc-8d7c-314cda6302c7 There’s also the potential for birth defects if broken tablets are handled by women who are or may become pregnant.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299678ff43-7229-4e38-913d-17f6532e9a9d Side effects for tadalafil include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762925541010-f2a6-447e-94e7-f25ac5ffdb3d Headache Skin flushing Acid reflux Back, stomach, muscle, arm, or leg pain Low blood pressure (hypotension) Dizziness Rapid heartbeat Vision changes Hearing loss An erection lasting longer than four hours With tadalafil, there is also the potential for interaction with other medications.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762925541010-f2a6-447e-94e7-f25ac5ffdb3d This includes nitrates , a type of medication used to treat angina (a type of chest pain), as it may cause a your blood pressure to decrease.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762925541010-f2a6-447e-94e7-f25ac5ffdb3d It’s also important to point out that while compounded drugs — like finasteride/tadalafil for hair loss/ED treatment — can be useful in some cases, they’re not approved by the FDA.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291f1ccf61-2d5a-4fb3-9ad9-b20b04fa017b Compounded medications can come with quality control, ingredient issues, and other types of risks, Brahmbhatt says — including patient injury or even death.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291cae0a58-aad3-4cfa-bd73-f94ac67f7460 “Where things get fuzzy is the one-pill combo itself — especially because it’s compounded. You start wondering about dose consistency and long-term data,” he says. “For example: What doses and ingredients are you actually getting?” Who Should Try (or Avoid) Combo Treatments for Men Some people may be better suited to try a hair loss-ED combination medication than others. For the FDA-approved use of finasteride/tadalafil, the ideal candidates are men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms and an enlarged prostate.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c7f7335d-a2b0-4c3d-8358-73749ed608cd While there isn’t an official candidate for the compounded finasteride/tadalafil combination to treat hair loss and ED together, the best fit may be men with male pattern baldness who also truly have erectile dysfunction or urinary symptoms, Brahmbhatt says. According to the FDA-approved medication label, men who should avoid this combo drug include those who:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c7f7335d-a2b0-4c3d-8358-73749ed608cd Take nitrate medications (such as nitroglycerin) Have had a heart attack within the last three months Have had a stroke within the last six months Have severe liver or kidney disease Are allergic to either medication In addition, finasteride/tadalafil should be used with caution if you have a new or unexplained case of erectile dysfunction that hasn’t been evaluated by a healthcare professional yet, Brahmbhatt says.
Note: Compounded drugs are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may carry greater risks than FDA-approved treatments. On their own, prescription medications like finasteride (used to treat male pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia) and tadalafil (used to treat erectile dysfunction [ED] ) are generally safe, effective, and commonly prescribed.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fe546005-3977-4023-aacf-2d1c98c44138e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290b9da6ef-087c-4ea5-9891-6ed271ab8dc2 But how well do these two work when combined in one pill? “Combination medications aim to treat hair loss and erectile dysfunction simultaneously,” says Shoshana Marmon, MD, PhD , an assistant professor and the director of clinical research in the dermatology department at New York Medical College in New York, who has researched hair loss treatments. “The rationale behind combining them is that tadalafil can improve erectile function and potentially counteract the sexual side effects that some men experience with finasteride alone .” This combination therapy has approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a different purpose, to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) , or an enlarged prostate.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629efb376dd-e60f-40a1-83b5-ff59e97fd641 There isn’t much existing evidence behind their safety and efficacy when combined to treat hair loss and ED , and each medication has risks and side effects to be aware of, including an increased risk of prostate cancer with finasteride.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297d88050b-81a8-4368-8c77-7f1c631bfb38