Finasteride is the best weapon for this fight. People have been using it for 20+ years to battle hair loss so it's probably the most effective treatment that we actually have testimonies of.
Some people are unaffected by it, both in terms of results and side effects, others get everything.
When it comes to results, going into it with reasonable expectations is key here. Some people aren't affected by it but most people should experience a sizeable decrease in hair loss and possibly maintenance for an extended period of time and some people get some regrowth of hair they lost in the past year or two, maybe longer if you are lucky. Regrowth in bald areas are rare so a bit of thickening up where you still have hair is more realistic if anything. Decrease in hair loss should be noticeable as early as a few weeks into treatment depending on how aggressive your hair loss is.
As far as sides go, a lot of people experience some tingling feeling in their stomach when taking their first pill or two so I guess taking the pill after a meal is probably what you should do. Long term sides reported by a sizeable amount include softer erection, watery semen and gyno but also less skin issues like acne (which I guess could be a good thing) and fewer visits to the bathroom (which is a side effect of using it for it's original intended use). If you get sides you can either tolerate them and stay the course or listen to your body and quit and the sides should disperse after a few weeks for most.
Most importantly, it's a lifetime treatment. When you stop using it, your hair loss with commence again. Also, the harsh reality, even if you have a good long term experience with finasteride, eventually genetics win out.
