Finasteride for hair loss in Denmark: how expats get it prescribed online

What is finasteride, and does it work for hair loss?

Finasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor that lowers DHT in the scalp, and it treats the cause of hereditary hair loss in men: less DHT means the follicles are left to continue their cycle.

Testosterone is converted in the skin to the stronger hormone DHT. In men with hereditary sensitivity, DHT makes the hair follicles shrink a little with each hair cycle. Finasteride blocks the enzyme that makes DHT, so it works on the cause rather than the symptom. Minoxidil, applied to the scalp, stimulates growth locally and is sold over the counter in Denmark; many men use both.

The main gain is the hair you keep; new growth is a bonus, not a promise. A short phase of increased shedding at the start is expected. The effect lasts as long as the treatment continues; if you stop, the hair loss catches up within about a year.

How do I get finasteride prescribed online in Denmark?

You book a phone consultation with a licensed Danish doctor, who assesses your hair loss and health and, if finasteride is suitable, sends the e-prescription to your pharmacy, often the same day.

1. Answer a few questionsOn the Danish treatment page at recepta.dk/h you answer short questions about your hair loss and health. You type your full name, e-mail and mobile number; MitID is not needed, and your CPR number is not entered in the form.
2. Talk to the doctor by phoneYou choose a fixed time or ask the doctor to call as soon as possible, typically within a few hours. The doctor confirms your identity on the call, goes through your health and other medicine, and decides whether finasteride is right for you.
3. Collect the tablets at the pharmacyThe e-prescription is stored on your CPR number and can be collected at any Danish pharmacy or ordered from a Danish online pharmacy. You pay for the tablets at the pharmacy.
4. Renewals without new appointmentsRenewals, follow-up and dose questions are handled in writing with the same doctor, and the prescription is renewed every 4 weeks as part of the membership.

The booking page is in Danish. Write to kontakt@recepta.dk before booking if you need help in English, and read CPR number and MitID if you are not registered yet.

What does finasteride cost in Denmark?

Finasteride 1 mg costs from DKK 124.10 for 30 tablets at Danish pharmacies, about DKK 115.83 per 4 weeks at one tablet a day, with no subsidy, and the doctor's programme at Recepta costs DKK 0 for the first 4 weeks and then from DKK 119 per 4 weeks.

The membership covers the consultation, the prescription, all renewals and follow-up. Pharmacy prices are the same across Denmark and change every 14 days; see pharmacy prices today.

Medicine against hair loss is not reimbursed in Denmark, so you pay the full pharmacy price. Original brand products and generics contain the same active substance, and the pharmacy offers the cheapest package.

How long does finasteride take to work?

Hair loss is usually slowed after 3 to 6 months, the first signs of thicker hair come after 6 to 12 months, and the full effect is best judged after about a year.

• 3 to 6 months: hair loss is usually slowed; first signs of denser hair.
• 6 to 12 months: the best time to judge what the treatment can do for you.
• Ongoing: the effect lasts as long as you take the tablet daily.

What are the side effects of finasteride, and who must not take it?

Most men have no side effects; a few per cent experience reduced libido, erection problems or less semen, which usually resolve when treatment is stopped, and women who are or may become pregnant must never use finasteride or handle crushed or split tablets.

Finasteride can also affect semen quality in some men, usually temporarily; if you plan to become a father soon, raise it at the consultation. Whole tablets are not a problem for a partner to touch, but a woman who is or may become pregnant must not handle crushed or split tablets, because finasteride can harm a male foetus. The treatment is not approved for women, and hair loss in women is worked up differently.

Tell the doctor about any mood changes or persistent sexual side effects; the doctor can stop the treatment and discuss alternatives. See hair loss medication (in Danish).

What is different for expats?

Nothing medically: the criteria and the medicine are the same, and the practical differences are the Danish booking page, the CPR number for the pharmacy, and the pharmacy price being the same everywhere in the country.

You do not need MitID or a referral, and you do not visit a clinic. A finasteride prescription from another EU country can be dispensed at a Danish pharmacy when it meets the EU requirements, but the simplest route is a Danish e-prescription, so that renewals run through the Danish system. See new in Denmark: prescription medicine.

Frequently asked questions