Most people tolerate oral finasteride (Propecia), topical finasteride, Rogaine (minoxidil including generic Rogaine and Kirkland minoxidil), and oral and topical dutasteride (Avodart) well. However, finasteride side effects and Propecia side effects can include reduced sex drive, erectile problems, and mental fog. Minoxidil side effects tend to be less severe, though oral minoxidil requires special supervision due to potential cardiovascular effects. Many men go even deeper and explore alternatives like RU58841, or various oil for hair growth, which all come with their own potential for serious side effects.
There's a crucial caveat to prescription hair medications: once you start, you can never stop. If you discontinue your finasteride prescription or any other medications you start taking, your hair loss will resume, and you'll likely lose the hair you maintained. And even while consistently using meds, your hair loss will continue – just to a lesser degree.