Hims is a telehealth platform that sells prescription medications online, primarily for men dealing with erectile dysfunction, hair loss, weight management, and mental health conditions. The “pills” people associate with Hims aren’t a single product but a range of FDA-approved generics, brand-name drugs, and compounded medications prescribed through virtual consultations and shipped directly to your door. Most are available as monthly subscriptions starting around $22 per month, depending on the medication.
Erectile Dysfunction Medications
The most well-known Hims products are their ED treatments. The platform offers generic versions of the two most common ED drugs: sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) and tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis). Both work by increasing blood flow, but they differ in how quickly they kick in and how long they last. Sildenafil typically works within 30 to 60 minutes and lasts four to six hours. Tadalafil can last up to 36 hours, which is why some men prefer a daily low dose.
Hims also sells a product called “Hard Mints,” which are mint-flavored chewable tablets that combine sildenafil and tadalafil at personalized dosages. These are compounded medications, meaning they’re custom-mixed by a licensed pharmacy rather than manufactured by a major drug company. Compounded drugs are prescribed by licensed providers and made in licensed pharmacies, but they have not been individually approved by the FDA for safety or effectiveness. The dosages in Hard Mints are tailored to each person based on a provider’s assessment.
Hair Loss Treatments
Hims offers two core hair loss medications, available separately or together. Finasteride is a daily pill (1 mg) that works by blocking an enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT, the hormone that shrinks hair follicles and causes male pattern baldness. By lowering DHT levels, finasteride slows or stops further hair loss. Generic finasteride through Hims costs about $22 per month.
Minoxidil, the other main option, was originally developed as a blood pressure medication before doctors noticed it promoted hair growth as a side effect. It works by improving blood flow to hair follicles, extending the active growth phase, and producing thicker hair shafts. Hims sells it in both topical (spray) and oral forms. A topical spray combining finasteride and minoxidil starts at $35 per month. When used together, the two medications address hair loss through different pathways: finasteride slows the hormonal process causing thinning while minoxidil actively stimulates regrowth.
Weight Loss Medications
Hims has expanded into weight loss, offering several GLP-1 medications. These drugs mimic a gut hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, helping people eat less and lose weight. The platform lists FDA-approved options including Wegovy (available as a pill from $149/month or an injectable pen from $199/month), Zepbound (from $299/month), and Ozempic (from $199/month). They also offer a newer option called Foundayo, an FDA-approved pill from Eli Lilly, starting at $149 per month.
This category has generated controversy. In 2024, Hims began selling compounded versions of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) at lower prices than the brand-name drugs. The FDA issued a warning letter over what it called “false and misleading” marketing language suggesting these compounded products were equivalent to the FDA-approved versions. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, has vowed to sue Hims, calling its compounded semaglutide product “an unapproved, inauthentic, and untested knockoff.” Compounded drugs are legally permitted when brand-name versions are in short supply, and Hims has operated in a regulatory gray area as the FDA has moved to end GLP-1 shortage designations.
Mental Health Medications
Hims provides online psychiatric consultations and prescriptions for common antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications. These include sertraline (generic Zoloft) and escitalopram (generic Lexapro), both SSRIs that work by increasing serotonin activity in the brain. Unlike some of their other offerings, these are standard FDA-approved generic drugs, not compounded formulations. The platform does not prescribe controlled substances like benzodiazepines or stimulants.
How the Subscription Model Works
Hims operates on a subscription basis. You fill out an online questionnaire, a licensed provider reviews it (sometimes with a video or text-based consultation), and if they determine a medication is appropriate, it’s shipped to you on a recurring schedule. Pricing varies by medication. Hair loss treatment with generic finasteride runs about $22 per month. ED medications and combination products cost more, and weight loss GLP-1 drugs range from $149 to over $1,800 per month depending on the specific drug and whether it’s a compounded or brand-name version.
One important distinction to understand: Hims sells both standard generics and compounded medications, and these are very different things. Standard generics like finasteride and sertraline contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug, are manufactured to the same FDA standards, and have the same regulatory approval. Compounded medications, like the Hard Mints and some of the weight loss products, are mixed by specialty pharmacies and are not evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. They’re legal, but they carry a different level of regulatory oversight than what you’d get picking up a prescription at a retail pharmacy.
Who Hims Is Designed For
The platform targets men who want convenient access to common medications without visiting a doctor’s office. It fills a real gap for people who find in-person visits inconvenient or who feel uncomfortable discussing conditions like ED or hair loss face to face. The tradeoff is that online evaluations are less thorough than in-person exams, and the subscription model means you’re often committing to ongoing monthly charges. Hair loss treatments in particular require continuous use. Stopping finasteride, for example, typically reverses any gains within several months as DHT levels return to normal and follicle miniaturization resumes.
Medications prescribed through Hims contain the same active ingredients available at any pharmacy. The platform isn’t selling proprietary formulas or supplements. It’s a delivery and consultation service layered on top of existing prescription drugs, with the addition of some compounded combination products that offer convenience or lower pricing at the cost of less regulatory scrutiny.