Finasteride Prescription Switzerland: Application, Access & Online Prescription

Legal Status in Switzerland

Clear legal regulations apply to the dispensing and use of finasteride in Switzerland. Here's an overview of the most important points. For scientific details on efficacy, see Finasteride: Efficacy & Clinical Studies. Finasteride is the most effective medication for androgenetic alopecia.

Prescription Requirement and Regulation

Finasteride is subject to prescription requirements in Switzerland according to the Therapeutic Products Act (HMG) and is regulated by Swissmedic. ^{[1] [2]} This means you need a medical prescription, as self-medication is not possible and the medication is not freely available in pharmacies. Finasteride is specifically approved by Swissmedic for hair loss treatment. The prescription requirement serves your safety, allowing a doctor to assess your medical suitability, exclude contraindications, determine the correct dosage, and advise on side effects.

Available Formulations

Since 2022, two dosage forms have been approved in Switzerland. ^[4] Oral tablets with 1 mg are available as Propecia (original product) or as cheaper generics and are taken daily. Topical solutions are available in various concentrations from 0.005% to 0.2%, are manufactured as individual prescriptions, and applied to the scalp daily, providing a local alternative to systemic oral administration.

How to Obtain a Prescription

There are different ways to get a finasteride prescription. Both options are legal and safe in Switzerland.

Option 1: Personal Doctor Visit

The classic route leads you to a GP or dermatologist, where you schedule an appointment and explain your concern. Most doctors are familiar with finasteride and can issue a prescription. The doctor will inquire about your medical history, assess hair loss, and exclude possible contraindications. If suitable, you'll receive a prescription for finasteride that you can redeem at any pharmacy. The advantage of this option lies in personal contact and direct consultation, while the disadvantage is time investment and often multi-week waiting times.

Option 2: Online Prescription via Telemedicine

The modern route via specialized telemedicine providers like orva involves completing a structured online questionnaire, which takes approximately 5-10 minutes. This captures your medical history, current medications, and hair loss stage. A licensed Swiss doctor reviews your information within 24-48 hours and assesses your medical suitability. With positive evaluation, the prescription is created digitally, transmitted to a partner pharmacy, which prepares the treatment and delivers it discreetly packaged within 2-5 business days to your home.

What You Need for the Prescription

Regardless of the route, you need the following information: your current medical history, a list of current medications, and information about hair loss such as duration, pattern, and stage. The doctor will also ask about any pre-existing conditions, especially in the liver and prostate areas.

Finasteride Dosage

The correct dosage depends on the dosage form and your individual needs. Here's an overview of proven dosages.

Standard Dose of 1 mg Oral Daily

The clinically established and Swissmedic-approved dose for hair loss is 1 mg finasteride daily. ^{[3] [7]} Administration is independent of meals, always at the same time of day, and continuously without breaks.

Alternative Oral Dosages

For individuals with side effects, there are lower daily doses. 0.5 mg daily is often sufficiently effective with fewer side effects. 0.25 mg daily represents a minimal effective dose for some users.

With pulse dosing, 1 mg is taken three days per week (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday) or every other day. ^[6] However, this method is less well studied.

Important: Dose adjustments should always be discussed with a doctor, as the 1-mg dose is best studied and shows the best results.

Topical Dosages

For topical application, various concentrations are possible. ^{[4] [5]} A low concentration of 0.005% finasteride corresponds to a total dose of about 0.1 mg per day. This dosage is hardly absorbed into the blood and is therefore well tolerated.

The standard concentration is 0.2% finasteride, corresponding to a total dose of about 2 mg per day. Here, somewhat more active ingredient is absorbed into the blood. This dosage is considered the proven standard.

Application of Finasteride

Correct application is crucial for treatment success. For oral administration of tablets, choose a time of day you can easily maintain, such as morning at breakfast or evening before bed, with regularity being important. Swallow the tablet whole with water; administration can be with or without food, and set a smartphone reminder if needed. Important notes: Do not split or break tablets, especially if pregnant women are in the household, and if you miss a dose, take the next dose at the usual time, but never a double dose.

Topical Application (Solution)

Application of topical finasteride occurs in four steps:

1. Preparation: The scalp must be dry and clean. Ideally apply in the evening before bed.

2. Dosing: Use a pipette or dropper for accurate dosing (1-2 mL depending on concentration).

3. Application: Apply the solution directly to the scalp (not into the hair) on affected areas. Distribute with fingertips.

4. Contact time: Let the solution work for at least 8-12 hours (overnight). Don't wash out immediately the next morning.

Application tips:

• The solution absorbs after 5-10 minutes
• Can be slightly sticky - normal
• With oily hair: Wash with mild shampoo in the morning
• Wash hands after application
• No skin contact with partner/children before contact time

Combination with Other Active Ingredients

Finasteride can be well combined with other treatments. With minoxidil, a synergistic effect is shown as both active ingredients work differently. Learn more in our article Minoxidil Application. With topical application of both active ingredients, apply finasteride first, wait 2-3 hours, then apply minoxidil. Alternatively, apply finasteride in the evening and minoxidil in the morning.

With microneedling, the combination works as follows: Perform microneedling once per week. Apply finasteride normally on all other days, but not directly after microneedling. Wait 24 hours here. With ketoconazole shampoo, there's no interaction; you can use it 2-3 times per week.

Costs and Reimbursement

Financing finasteride treatment is an important topic for many. Costs vary depending on provider and dosage form.

Costs in Switzerland

Finasteride generics contain the same active ingredient in the same dosage as the original (Propecia) and cost significantly less. Efficacy is identical. Topical formulations are usually manufactured as individual prescriptions and are available from specialized providers.

Cost Coverage by Health Insurance

Basic insurance does not cover finasteride for hair loss. Finasteride for treating hair loss is considered an aesthetic treatment and is therefore not covered by mandatory health insurance.

Some supplementary insurances partially cover costs. Ask your health insurance company whether cost coverage is possible. For prostate enlargement, basic insurance covers the costs for finasteride.

Timeframe Until First Results

Realistic expectations are important. In the first 0-3 months, active hair loss stops. You lose fewer hairs when washing and combing. This phase serves stabilization.

After 3-6 months, first fine hairs become visible. Hair density begins to improve. These are the first visible improvements.

After 6-12 months, hair density increases visibly. Fine hairs become strong terminal hairs. The improvement becomes clearly visible.

After 12-24 months, maximum effect is achieved. Hair density stabilizes at the new level.

Long-Term Therapy with Finasteride

Finasteride only works with continuous application. After discontinuation, hair loss returns within 3-6 months. The hair picture develops to the level that would have been reached without treatment. Already gained hair is lost again.

Finasteride is a permanent treatment. If you want to maintain results, you must apply the medication long-term. This doesn't mean the medication is addictive. It only means that the biological process of hair loss resumes without DHT blockade. The good news: Over 25 years of clinical experience show that finasteride is well-tolerated even with long-term use.

Strategies for Long-Term Use

With good tolerability, you can simply continue treatment lifelong. Regular doctor checks once yearly are recommended. Dosage can be adjusted if needed.

After 2-5 years and achieving maximum effect, a maintenance dose can make sense. The dose is reduced to 0.5 mg or to every other day. The doctor monitors whether the effect is maintained.

If you want to discontinue, this should be done gradually over several months. Gradual reduction minimizes abrupt hair loss rebound.

Online Prescription with orva

orva offers a modern, uncomplicated route to finasteride. The entire process runs digitally and is tailored to Swiss needs.

The process begins with an online questionnaire that takes 5-10 minutes. A Swiss doctor reviews your information within 24-48 hours. If suitable, the prescription is issued and discreet delivery occurs within 2-5 business days.

Available Options at orva

Various options are available at orva: 0.005% topical, 0.2% topical, 1 mg oral as daily tablets. Combination with minoxidil is possible.

Advantages

Swiss doctors with Swissmedic approval guarantee the same medical standards as a practice visit. Packaging and delivery are discreet. You can choose flexible delivery intervals and receive personal support for questions. Prescription renewal is possible without re-consultation.

Conclusion on Access to Finasteride in Switzerland

Obtaining finasteride in Switzerland is uncomplicated, whether via classic doctor visit or modern telemedicine. The prescription requirement protects your safety. There are multiple options: oral or topical with various dosages.

Flexible access routes via pharmacy or online with home delivery make treatment accessible. Finasteride is a long-term therapy. Continuous application is necessary for lasting results. Over 25 years of clinical experience show good tolerability.

With the right approach, realistic expectations, and continuous application, finasteride is an effective solution against hair loss. For more helpful information, see our articles on Finasteride Efficacy & Studies, Finasteride Side Effects and Finasteride Topical vs. Oral.