What is the difference between generic propecia and propecia

Finasteride also comes in 1mg tablets sold in packs of As Finasteride is a generic, unbranded version of Propecia, the price is considerably lower. Both versions of the drug are of the same strength and require a prescription to purchase. They are most effective in males aged between 18 - 41 and the earlier you start taking Finasteride, the better — it is much easier to prevent further hair loss than it is to regrow hair that you have already lost. Patients are strongly advised to check all ingredients before beginning any form of medical treatment.

Propecia is specially formulated for men, so women are advised to seek other treatments and therapies for a thinning hairline. Before taking it is a good idea to research the side effects of Finasteride. For more information on hair loss treatments head over to our Hair Loss page.

Here you can read more about the available products, seek medical advice from our healthcare professionals, and read other blogs on Propecia, Regaine, and Avodart. Or browse all treatments or conditions. Scott is one of the two founders of The Independent Pharmacy. He is a registered pharmacist and the registered manager of our service with the CQC. Dr Don Grant is The Independent Pharmacy's original online prescriber and has advanced in his role to become the Clinical Advisor, using his wealth of experience to advise on our clinical polices and prescribing guidelines.

According to data from the National Library of Medicine , an estimated 50 million men are affected by androgenic alopecia also commonly referred to as male pattern baldness in the US alone. Put simply, hair loss is very common.

Like other medications, Propecia is sold under its original brand name and as a generic under the name of its active ingredient, finasteride. Each Proscar tablet contains 5mg of finasteride.

This higher dose is designed specifically as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH. In , the FDA approved a second medication called Propecia — a lower-dose, 1mg version of Proscar intended to treat male pattern baldness. This hair loss medication is designed for daily use by men who have symptoms of male pattern baldness, such as a receding hairline , baldness around the crown of the head or other signs of hair loss.

Studies show that finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia, is highly effective as a treatment for male pattern baldness. Finasteride works by stopping the production of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which can bind to receptors in your scalp and damage your hair follicles.

DHT is produced in your body as a byproduct of testosterone. By preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT, finasteride reduces DHT levels throughout your body and shields your hair follicles from damage.

Like many other medications that have been on the market for several decades, Propecia is available as a brand name medication and as a generic. Generic Propecia, which is often referred to simply as finasteride, contains the same ingredient as the brand name Propecia sold by Merck.

It has the same effects within your body and is just as effective at slowing down or preventing the effects of male pattern baldness. Like brand name Propecia, generic finasteride comes in tablet form and is designed to be taken daily at a dosage of 1mg. Finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia, is available in several forms and is typically used at several different dosages.

Brand name Propecia is sold exclusively as a 1mg tablet. Each tablet is intended for daily use, making it easy to take the typical 1mg of finasteride per day with this form of the medication. Generic finasteride is available in several dosages. There is no medical difference between Propecia and Finasteride.

What distinguishes them is only a matter of name. Finasteride is the active ingredient in Propecia. Back in the s, a pharmaceutical company called Merck and Co. When they trialled Finasteride, they found that it was hugely effective in encouraging hair growth. As a result, the company applied for a licence to sell Finasteride as a treatment for male balding — and they chose the name Propecia.

However, as happens with medicines, the licence to manufacture the drug expired in , enabling it to be produced by other manufacturers. That means that you can take the generic version of the drug, without paying for the brand name. So, you can trust that Propecia works as well as generic Finasteride. You may have heard that Finasteride goes by another name still. While this is the same active drug, Proscar is not intended as a hair loss treatment. Rather, due to its higher dose, it is actually aimed at the treatment of BPH.

Rather than the Finasteride 1mg dose, Proscar comes in 5mg doses. However, this does not mean that it is five times more powerful — nor that it will increase the effects of Finasteride. It is worth being as clear as possible about the potential side effects of Propecia and Finasteride.

Being the same drug, they share the same risk of side effects. However, this risk is incredibly low. You may have heard some horror stories about the possible side effects of Finasteride. These have been said to include a number of sexual side effects, including sexual dysfunctions such as erectile dysfunction , problems with ejaculation, and decreased libido.

However, despite much publicity, these are not nearly as common as you have been led to believe. While Finasteride and Propecia both have the same risk of side effects — as they are indeed the same drug — this risk is low. In fact, The most effective oral treatment for receding hairlines and balding crowns. Just one pill a day.