Propecia and Proscar

Finasteride Products

Finasteride Overview

The active ingredient in Propecia and Proscar is called Finasteride. The product is marketed in the form of a tablet produced by Merck and Company, and was approved by the FDA in 1997 as a treatment for male pattern baldness. The 1 mg tablet of Finasteride is sold as Propecia, while the 5 mg tablet is sold as Proscar. The action of Finasteride is to inhibit the action of an enzyme called type II 5-alpha reductase. It's this enzyme that converts the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, called DHT. Where Propecia is estimated to block 55% of DHT, Proscar claims to block 70%. High concentrations of DHT in a man's scalp can damage hair follicles leading to hair loss, especially for those who are genetically sensitive.

Companies from other countries also produce Finasteride based products. Cipla in India produces Finpecia, which is a 1mg Finasteride product, and Fincar, which is a 5mg Finasteride product.

Is Propecia and Proscar Safe?

Propecia and Proscar are products for use by men only. Women should not come in contact with these products. As with most prescription products, side effects can occur. In 2 - 5% of men taking Proscar or Propecia, side effects were experienced. Some men reported loss of sex drive, difficulty in achieving an erection, loss of sensitivity, and a decrease in semen volume (not sperm count). Contact your doctor promptly if you experience any of these or other symptoms while taking Propecia, Proscar, or other Finasteride products.

How to use Propecia and Proscar

A non-prescription tablet taken orally once a day. Propecia contains a 1mg formulation of Finasteride while Proscar contains 5mg. Cost conscious shoppers can purchase Proscar and divide the tablets.

Propecia and Proscar Results

Finasteride is a hair-promoting product, its action is to block the formation of DHT - a "DHT blocker" or "DHT inhibitor". Because hair grows slowly, the visible results will take some time. Most men should begin to see the initial benefits, such as reduced hair loss, in as early as 3 months. However to maintain the beneficial results of Propecia and Proscar you must continue their use. Discontinued treatment will result in the loss of any hair gained over a 9 to 12 month period.

In clinical studies of Finasteride products, real hair growth occurred on both the vertex and anterior mid-scalp area. In one study nearly half of the men who took Finasteride grew hair on the scalp, and 83% halted their hair loss; however, a small percentage of men did continue to report hair loss. Some dermatologists report more effective results with Proscar over Propecia with older men.