The BBC has found that some online sites are offering hair loss drugs to men without consistent safety checks, which could have potentially risky side effects.

Side effects of finasteride can include suicidal thoughts and impotence, yet some big brand companies will send the pills in the post without even seeing or interacting with the customer.

Kyle, who is 26 and from Wakefield, regrets buying pills online after filling in a ‘tick-box’ form.

He says that his life has been turned upside down due to the decision taken very quickly.

Kyle started taking finasteride last spring after a teammate recommended it to him.

He says he did a little research on it beforehand, but it was easy to buy it online.

“I just typed it into Google and it came up with all these online pharmacies,” says Kyle.

“It’s everywhere. It’s very easily available.”

The prescription pills arrived at his doorstep within a week of ordering.

“I didn’t consult any doctors. No Zoom meetings. I didn’t really have to send them any pictures or anything like that to confirm that I had male pattern baldness.

“I started it and, yes – it was the biggest mistake of my life.”

Kyle says he has been having problems with his sexual, mental and physical health since taking the drug – problems he had never experienced before and which have persisted since stopping the drug.

“Life just feels blurry. It’s drained my emotions,” says Kyle.

“It took everything away from me – my whole personality and everything. I stopped going out with my mates, stopped playing football and started having all these problems.”

Finasteride is one of the most common pills for hair loss, taken by thousands of men in the UK. It is available only by private prescription.

It works by preventing testosterone from converting into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can inhibit hair growth.

Kyle took it for about six weeks, but stopped taking it after experiencing problems, including suicidal thoughts.

In late April 2024 – just weeks after Kyle got his prescription – UK regulators took immediate action on finasteride, saying The pack must contain a special safety warning card Warning of small risk of serious side effects including suicidal thoughts and sexual dysfunction.

After being approached by other men like Kyle Your voice, your BBC newsWe asked a male colleague to purchase finasteride from three major online providers to see what’s now included in the checks.

Online prescriber ‘Himes’ noted side effects.

Superdrug also offered the option to chat to a doctor – which cost extra.

Only Boots Pharmacy asked for photos of hair loss.

When some packs arrived, none contained the new patient warning card that drug manufacturers were asked to add.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says manufacturers have been given up to a year to comply, but it could take longer.

Boots, Hims and Superdrug say online finasteride customers are asked to confirm that they have read and understand the potential risks.

They say that until alert cards are “rolled out” and placed in packs, users may still read the lengthy patient information leaflet already included with the drug to learn about side effects.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society says online prescribing can be very useful for many patients, especially if they are embarrassed to go to the doctor. But the investigation should be strong.

“It’s really important that whether it’s online or face-to-face, these thorough checks are taking place,” James Davis, England’s RPS director, told BBC News.

“This means that a thorough medical history is taken, with an opportunity to understand the side effects, risks and benefits of any medication that may be prescribed.”

She said it can be useful to share photos of hair loss with the doctor and make a video call to discuss all the issues.

British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS) believes that patients should not get medicines just by filling online forms,

Greg Williams, a hair transplant surgeon and vice president of BAHRS, says that although finasteride is a good treatment for many people, the small possibility of serious side effects should be explained and monitored closely.

“There will be some patients who have risk factors that may make finasteride a risky prescription. I’m not saying it can’t be prescribed, but patients need to be appropriately counseled.”

Europe’s drug regulator is conducting its own safety review of finasteride. Restrictions may include,

Nearly a year after first ordering the drug, Kyle says he deeply regrets taking finasteride.

“It’s just a little pill. You take it and don’t really think about what it can do for you,” he says.

“Every day I beat myself up saying ‘You had a great life, you didn’t have to take any risks with your hair.’

“It was pointless for me…but when you’re insecure you do stupid things.

“If I had known what it could do I would have never taken it.”