Finasteride: new rules for treating baldness and associated risks

Under conditions. This is now the way to access a well-known anti-baldness drug, based on finasteride, marketed under the name Propecia or Proscar.

The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) thus indicated that it would put into force the measure that it had announced in February, namely that from April 16, 2026, “ the dispensation of finasteride 1 mg (is) conditional on the presentation of an annual certificate of shared information, co-signed by doctor and patientin addition to the order “. A prerogative which is worth for any initiation of treatment, while patients already under treatment benefit fromadditional time: the certificate will be required from June 16 for any renewal.

In its February 2026 update, where it announced this measure, the ANSM explained that medications based on finasteride 1 mg “ are at risk of psychiatric disorders as well as sexual dysfunction, which can lead to suicidal ideation “. She therefore saw fit to strengthen patient information on these medications, in addition to the European measures announced in September 2025.

On the boxes there is now a text evoking these psychological risks, as well asa QR code referring to the ANSM thematic file on this subject, to inform patients. The certificate is also designed for the same purpose of informing the patient, and “ ensures that the doctor and the patient have discussed together the risks related to the treatment and the precautions to take ».

The ANSM lists the main risks to keep in mind, namely:

Patients wishing to start treatment with finasteride must therefore go to the pharmacy with this certificate in addition to their prescription. For renewals, the patients concerned will have to do the same starting June 16. Prescribing doctors are also invited to save the co-signed certificate in the patient’s medical file, or even to add it to the shared medical record of the patient.