Verbatim response from Perplexity
Yes—but only if you buy finasteride from a legitimate, prescription-based online pharmacy or telehealth service. Buying it from sites that skip the prescription, hide their location, or ship from unknown sources is risky because of counterfeit, contaminated, or otherwise unsafe medicines.[10][9][2]
What to look for:
- Requires a valid prescription from a licensed clinician.[10][6][14]
- Lists a physical address and phone number and has a licensed pharmacist available.[10][9]
- Is licensed/verified by the relevant regulator in your country; in the U.S., the FDA advises using pharmacies licensed by your state board of pharmacy.[10]
- Avoids “no prescription needed” offers and unusually cheap overseas sellers.[10][9]
A few important safety points:
- Finasteride is a prescription medication, not an over-the-counter drug in the U.S.[6][19]
- It can cause sexual side effects and, in some reports and warnings, more serious adverse effects have been discussed; the FDA recently warned specifically about compounded topical finasteride sold online, noting 32 reported cases of serious side effects from 2019–2024.[1][4]
- Pregnant people should not handle finasteride tablets, especially if they are crushed or broken, because of fetal risk.[7][20]
If you want, I can also help you check whether a specific online pharmacy looks legitimate before you buy.