Baseball versus football, merlot versus rosé, Propecia versus finasteride. Life consists of choices between similar items — sports, wine, and even hair loss treatments.
Sometimes, we have strong preferences. Other times, comparing two things can lead to more confusion. And when dealing with male pattern baldness, you want to be sure you’re making the right decision.
So, what’s the difference between finasteride versus Propecia? Is there a difference? And what about that other hair loss treatment — how do Proscar® versus Propecia compare?
Don’t worry. We’ll discuss the differences between these standard hair growth solutions below. So kick back with your beverage of choice while we tell you all you need to know about Propecia versus finasteride.
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Propecia vs. Finasteride: Is There a Difference for Hair Loss?
Let’s clear this up right away: When it comes to finasteride versus Propecia, both are excellent choices for hair loss.
Propecia is the brand name of the medication made by a company called Merck & Co. Finasteride is both the active ingredient in and generic version of Propecia.
Propecia was initially released as Proscar explicitly designed as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Proscar tablets containing 5 milligrams (mg) of finasteride are still prescribed for this purpose.
In 1992, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved a second finasteride medication called Propecia to treat male pattern baldness. Propecia contains a lower dose of finasteride than prescribed for BPH (1 milligram versus 5 milligrams).
This hair loss medication is intended for daily use by men with symptoms of male pattern baldness, such as a receding hairline, baldness around the crown of the head, or other signs of hair loss.
How Propecia and Generic Finasteride Work for Hair Loss
Also known as androgenetic alopecia (or androgenic alopecia), male hair loss is caused by genetics and androgen hormones, affecting up to half of men by age 50.
Generic Propecia and the finasteride brand name treat male pattern hair loss similarly, as they’re essentially the same medication. The active ingredient stops the production of dihydrotestosterone (or DHT), which can bind to receptors in the scalp and damage hair follicles.
DHT is converted from testosterone by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. By preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT, finasteride reduces DHT levels throughout the body and shields hair follicles in the growth phase of the hair growth cycle from damage.
A review of finasteride as a treatment for male pattern baldness concluded that oral finasteride promoted hair regrowth and prevented further hair loss in many men with male pattern hair loss.
Although it’s typically taken as an oral medication, topical finasteride is another option with promising results. It’s unclear whether DHT levels are affected by the topical version, but some studies found a decrease in hair loss and new hair growth with the use of topical finasteride.
