cwsmithsonian.org

Interestingly, Finasteride is the main generic drug utilized in these two prescription medications, albeit in different dosages. One should not be substituted for the other because they are used for different conditions. If Finasteride is absorbed through a pregnant woman’s skin, these drugs can cause birth defects in the fetus. Propecia and Proscar are both drugs that are only prescribed for men.

Proscar includes a larger dose of Finasteride, normally available in apple-shaped 5 mg tablets. Propecia includes a smaller dose of Finasteride, and it comes in the form of a 1 mg tablet. Splitting a Proscar tablet in an attempt to use it in place of Propecia is not advised, since once a tablet is cut up, the dose in each piece will be unknown.

Taking five Propecia tablets to mimic the effects of Proscar is not wise because various other ingredients are present in these drugs. So how do the two drugs differ? Proscar is used in the treatment of an enlarged prostate in males. For men, Proscar stops testosterone from transforming into a chemical called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. It has been proven that Proscar is effective in preventing or delaying prostate cancer in approximately 23% of men who were thought to be candidates to develop this kind of cancer. But Propecia is used to treat a condition referred to as male pattern baldness. Propecia functions by working in conjunction with the normal growth and shedding of hair in men. Within three months of beginning treatment with Propecia, the loss of hair should slow or stop altogether. If Propecia is working well for you, you need to think about not letting the prescription run out. If for any reason you no longer take the medication, most likely the hair loss problem will return within a year, and it will be similar to the problem that was present before medical intervention.

Finasteride is a prescription medication and must be prescribed by a physician or obtained via online pharmacies. Just like many medications, Propecia and Proscar both have several side effects. While the body adjusts to the medication, men may experience loss of libido, decrease in semen and hypersensitivity and minor rashes. Therefore, in order to be able to make an informed decision, you would have to examine the advantages and disadvantages of these medications.