Finasteride and Minoxidil Together: What Studies Report

PrescribedRX is a telehealth platform; prescriptions are written by licensed clinicians and filled by licensed partner pharmacies.

Short answer: Several studies have tested finasteride and minoxidil together as a hair loss treatment. In a 450-man randomized trial, the authors reported improvement at 12 months in 94.1% of men taking oral finasteride 1 mg plus 5% topical minoxidil, versus 80.5% on finasteride alone and 59% on minoxidil alone (Hu et al., 2015). The studies differ in route and dose, and most are small or open-label.

This page reports only studies that gave both drugs together. For each one, it lists how each drug was given (by mouth or on the scalp), the dose, the number of men, how long the study ran and what the authors reported.

What are finasteride and minoxidil?

Finasteride 1 mg is sold as Propecia, a tablet taken by mouth. The Propecia prescribing information says it is indicated for male pattern hair loss “in MEN ONLY” and describes finasteride as a Type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (Propecia prescribing information).

Minoxidil comes in two forms. Men’s Rogaine 5% foam and solution are over-the-counter products applied to the scalp, and their Drug Facts cover hair loss on the top of the scalp (Rogaine foam Drug Facts). Minoxidil tablets are prescribed for a type of high blood pressure, and their prescribing information does not list hair loss, so taking them for hair loss is off-label (minoxidil tablets prescribing information).

For how the two compare one against the other, see minoxidil vs finasteride compared.

What do the combination studies report?

In the table, “oral” means taken by mouth and “topical” means applied to the scalp.

Study	Design and size	Finasteride	Minoxidil	Length	What the authors reported
Hu 2015	Randomized, 450 men (428 evaluated)	Oral, 1 mg a day	Topical, 5%	12 months	Improvement in 94.1% (combination), 80.5% (finasteride), 59% (minoxidil)
Khandpur 2002	Open, randomized, 100 men	Oral, 1 mg a day	Topical, 2%	1 year	Best results in the combination group; finasteride groups significantly better than minoxidil alone (p<0.05)
Bharadwaj 2023	Open-label pilot, randomized, 60 men	Topical, 0.25%	Topical, 5%	24 weeks	Combination superior for total hair density at week 24 (P<0.02)
Li 2025	Meta-analysis, 7 RCTs, 396 men	Topical, 0.1% to 0.25%, mixed with minoxidil	Topical, 3% to 5%	3 to 6 months	Hair density mean difference 9.22 vs minoxidil alone (p=0.04)
Xia 2025	Network meta-analysis, 18 RCTs, 729 patients	Topical in the included trials	Topical	24 weeks	Ranked first among combinations in men; 29.68 hairs per cm2 more than minoxidil alone
Johnson 2025	Retrospective, single arm, 502 men	Oral, 1 mg a day	Oral, 2.5 mg a day (same tablet)	12 months	92.4% rated stable or improved and 57.4% improved on photos; no comparison group

The studies used different measures, so their numbers cannot be compared directly. Each one is described and linked below.

Oral finasteride plus topical minoxidil

Hu and colleagues randomly assigned 450 Chinese men with male pattern hair loss to finasteride 1 mg a day (160 men), 5% topical minoxidil (130 men) or both (160 men) for 12 months. Efficacy was checked every 3 months, and 428 men were evaluated at the end. At 12 months, the authors reported improvement in 80.5% of the finasteride group, 59% of the minoxidil group and 94.1% of the combination group. They concluded that “the combined medication showed the best efficacy” (Hu et al., 2015).

An older open study by Khandpur and colleagues randomized 100 men with Hamilton grade II to IV hair loss into four groups: oral finasteride 1 mg (30 men), finasteride plus 2% topical minoxidil (36 men), minoxidil alone (24 men), and finasteride plus 2% ketoconazole shampoo (10 men). After one year, the authors reported the best results in the finasteride plus minoxidil group, and said all groups taking finasteride showed significant improvement over minoxidil alone (p<0.05) (Khandpur et al., 2002). Results were based on patient and physician scores and photo review. The study used 2% minoxidil, not the 5% strength.

Is there a finasteride and minoxidil spray or solution?

Researchers have tested topical solutions that mix both drugs. In a 24-week pilot study, 60 men aged 18 to 40 applied 1 ml twice a day of 5% minoxidil, 0.25% finasteride, or both mixed together. All three groups improved from baseline. The authors reported that the combination was superior for total hair density at week 24 (P<0.02) and for terminal hair density at weeks 12 (P=0.028) and 24 (Bharadwaj et al., 2023). The authors list a small sample, no placebo group and no long-term follow-up as limits.

A 2025 meta-analysis pooled 7 randomized trials with 396 men that compared a mixed solution (minoxidil 3% to 5% plus finasteride 0.1% to 0.25%) with minoxidil alone. The pooled mean difference in hair density was 9.22 (95% CI 0.29 to 18.16, p=0.04), with high heterogeneity between trials (I2 = 90%), and the pooled mean difference in hair diameter was 2.26 (p=0.005). The authors rated the certainty of evidence as moderate for hair density and low for hair diameter, and noted that follow-up was 6 months or less (Li et al., 2025).

A separate 2025 network meta-analysis of 18 trials and 729 patients compared minoxidil-based combinations. In men, finasteride plus minoxidil ranked first, with 29.68 more hairs per square centimeter than minoxidil alone at 24 weeks. The finasteride in the included combination trials was topical. The authors say the male findings came mostly from indirect comparisons with very low to low quality evidence (Xia et al., 2025).

Oral finasteride plus oral minoxidil

The evidence for both drugs taken by mouth is thinner. The study cited here is not a randomized trial but a retrospective review of 502 men who took finasteride 1 mg plus oral minoxidil 2.5 mg in a single tablet through a UK digital health service. At 12 months, clinicians rating photos judged 92.4% of men stable or improved and 57.4% improved (Johnson et al., 2025).

The authors state that the study had no control or placebo group, no randomization or blinding, and no structured side-effect or lab data. All of the authors were employed by the company that ran the service (Johnson et al., 2025).

What side effects did the studies and prescribing information report?

• Hu 2015: the authors reported adverse reactions in 1.8% of the finasteride group and 6.1% of the minoxidil group, and said they went away after the drug was stopped (Hu et al., 2015).
• Khandpur 2002: the authors reported no significant drug-related side effects (Khandpur et al., 2002).
• Bharadwaj 2023: 15 men (25%) in the two minoxidil-containing groups reported scaling, more shedding, dryness, itching or headache in the first 12 weeks. No sexual side effects were reported (Bharadwaj et al., 2023).
• Li 2025: the discussion reports contact dermatitis in 12% to 24% of cases with the topical mix (Li et al., 2025).

The Propecia prescribing information adds its own data. In the Propecia hair-loss trials, its Table 1 lists decreased libido in 1.8% of men vs 1.3% on placebo, erectile dysfunction in 1.3% vs 0.7%, and ejaculation disorder in 1.2% vs 0.7%. It also says finasteride lowers PSA, a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer (Propecia prescribing information). For more, read our guide to finasteride for hair loss.

What low-dose studies have reported for minoxidil taken by mouth is covered in oral minoxidil side effects.

How long did the studies run, and what happens after stopping?

The combination studies above ran from 12 weeks to 12 months. The Propecia prescribing information says daily use “for three months or more is necessary before benefit is observed,” and that stopping “leads to reversal of effect within 12 months” (Propecia prescribing information). The Rogaine 5% Drug Facts say continued use is necessary to keep regrowth, “or hair loss will begin again” (Rogaine foam Drug Facts). For minoxidil timepoints, see what minoxidil trials report by timepoint.

What are the limits of the evidence?

• Several studies were open-label or small, and the pilot study had no placebo group (Bharadwaj et al., 2023).
• The topical meta-analysis lists short follow-up, small samples, wide confidence intervals and high heterogeneity, and calls for trials of at least 12 months (Li et al., 2025).
• The network meta-analysis says direct comparisons between combinations are lacking (Xia et al., 2025).

When should you talk to a doctor?

Talk to a licensed provider before starting finasteride, minoxidil or both, especially if you have a health condition, take other medicines, have an upcoming PSA test or notice side effects. Our hair loss treatment safety information page has general safety information. In an emergency, call 911.

Where does Hair We Grow fit?

Hair We Grow is offered through PrescribedRX. Its product page lists it as finasteride plus minoxidil in one daily capsule. It is compounded. Compounded medications are prepared by licensed pharmacies and are not FDA-approved. None of the studies on this page tested Hair We Grow, so their results do not describe it.

• 3 month plan $220 · $73/mo · Billed every 3 months. Cancel anytime.
• Monthly plan $90 a month

A licensed provider decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your provider sets the dose. Other options are listed on the hair loss treatments page and the pricing page. PrescribedRX does not offer dutasteride; for that comparison see dutasteride vs finasteride.

Frequently asked questions

Have finasteride and minoxidil been studied together?

Yes. Randomized trials have tested oral finasteride with topical minoxidil (Hu 2015, 450 men; Khandpur 2002, 100 men) and topical mixes of both (Bharadwaj 2023, and 7 trials pooled in Li 2025). In each, the authors reported larger gains in the combination group than in at least one single-drug group.

Is there a product that combines finasteride and minoxidil?

Mixed topical solutions of both drugs were tested in Bharadwaj 2023 and in the 7 trials pooled in Li 2025. Hair We Grow, offered through PrescribedRX, is a compounded capsule that its product page lists as finasteride plus minoxidil, and a licensed provider decides whether it is appropriate for you.

Who sets the dose of each drug?

Your provider sets the dose. The studies on this page used finasteride 1 mg by mouth or 0.1% to 0.25% on the scalp, and minoxidil 2% to 5% on the scalp or 2.5 mg by mouth. These are study facts, not dosing instructions.

Sources

1. Hu R, et al. Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized and comparative study in Chinese patients. Dermatol Ther. 2015;28:303-308. PubMed. Accessed Oct 2026.
2. Khandpur S, Suman M, Reddy BS. Comparative efficacy of various treatment regimens for androgenetic alopecia in men. J Dermatol. 2002;29:489-498. PubMed. Accessed Oct 2026.
3. Bharadwaj AV, et al. Comparative efficacy of topical finasteride (0.25%) in combination with minoxidil (5%) against 5% minoxidil or 0.25% finasteride alone in male androgenetic alopecia: a pilot, randomized open-label study. Int J Trichology. 2023;15(2):56-62. PMC. Accessed Oct 2026.
4. Li Y, et al. Comparing minoxidil-finasteride mixed solution with minoxidil solution alone for male androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Med. 2025;12:1632139. PMC. Accessed Oct 2026.
5. Xia Y, et al. Relative efficacy of minoxidil in combination with other treatments for androgenic alopecia: a network meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials. Front Med. 2025;12:1638496. PMC. Accessed Oct 2026.
6. Johnson H, et al. Effectiveness of combined oral minoxidil and finasteride in male androgenetic alopecia: a retrospective service evaluation. Cureus. 2025;17(1):e77549. PMC. Accessed Oct 2026.
7. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine. PROPECIA (finasteride) tablets prescribing information (rev. 11/2023). dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed Oct 2026.
8. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine. MEN’S ROGAINE (minoxidil 5%) unscented foam, Drug Facts. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed Oct 2026.
9. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine. Minoxidil tablets prescribing information. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed Oct 2026.

This article is for general information. It is not medical advice and it is not a recommendation for any particular treatment. Whether a treatment is appropriate for you is a decision for a licensed clinician who has reviewed your health history and current medications.