Proscar versus Propecia for hair loss treatment : Those of you who are considering the use of drugs for managing male pattern baldness may be aware that some individuals are taking Proscar instead of Propecia. The rationale being, both Propecia and Proscar are forms of Finasteride which has been approved by the FDA for addressing hair loss.

But the question that would naturally come to mind is why one version of the drug would be considered over the other when choosing a hair loss medication .

What Is Proscar?

Each Proscar pill contains a 5mg dose of Finasteride. However, Propecia and Finpecia only contains 1mg per tablet. Proscar’s main usage is for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

The levels of DHT in the bloodstream will increase due to the breakdown of testosterone. This process is driven by the 5-alpha-reductase-enzyme. Both Proscar and Propecia will occupy and block the active sites of the type II version of this enzyme to slow down the conversion rate of testosterone to DHT.

DHT stimulates the growth of prostrate tissue. Therefore, taking Proscar will help to shrink any excess enlargements in the prostrate area. This helps to reduce the need for patients to undergo surgery to have this removed.

Since DHT also facilitates the shrinkage of hair follicles by binding to receptors on the follicles, this compound also contributes to genetic forms of hair loss.

Therefore, Proscar is a legitimate medication to consider for treatment of androgenic alopecia form of hair loss with caveats of getting the dose adjusted to 1mg per day

Proscar versus Propecia or Finpecia for hair loss treatment: When To Consider Proscar

Some doctors may prescribe Proscar for pattern baldness if desired results are not experienced with Propecia. However, the recommended Finasteride dosage for treating hair loss is 1mg. Using a pill cutter to divide a tablet of Proscar into fourths is one option for meeting this parameter. However, this would give patients a slightly higher dosage at 1.25mg. Also, this method is not terribly accurate since pills can crumble.

Is Proscar More Effective Than Propecia or finpecia at Treating Hair Loss

The results of Proscar versus Propecia or finpecia will vary, depending on the individual. It is important to remember that DHT is only one factor involved in causing pattern baldness. There is no evidence to support that the higher finasteride dosage that comes with the use of proscar will cause a better results in treating hair loss. Also, it is possible for the side effects of finasteride to be increased with use of proscar because of the higher dosing.

Proscar versus Propecia or FinPecia for hair loss treatment — (Creative Commons image from Wikipedia)
Some patients may experience new hair growth from taking Propecia. Others may not. But all patients should consider the risk of side effects when deciding to take this drug or not.

Understanding the multiple factors involved in androgenic alopecia is important for establishing realistic expectations for drug treatment.

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