Finasteride (brand name Propecia) is a prescription medication used to treat male pattern baldness in adult men. It works by lowering levels of a hormone in your body that's linked to hair loss. You take it by mouth once a day, with or without food. Find patient medical information for Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings, and user ratings Propecia (finasteride) is an oral tablet that is used to treat male-pattern hair loss. While it is generally considered a safe and effective drug, Propecia has been tied to several side effects, including erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and depression. What is Propecia? Propecia is a brand name for the generic drug finasteride, which is a prescription-only oral tablet taken daily to slow down hair loss in men. Finasteride, sold under the brand names Proscar (5 mg) and Propecia (1 mg) among others, is a medication used to treat pattern hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). [6] Propecia is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vertex and the anterior mid-scalp area. Male pattern hair loss is a common condition in which men experience thinning of the hair on the scalp. Often, this results in a receding hairline and/or balding on the top of the head. Propecia (finasteride 1 mg tablets) became FDA-approved for male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) in men on December 19, 1997. Finasteride is now available as a generic medicine.