Is Generic Finasteride as Effective as Propecia for Hair Loss?

I just checked Costco prices and generic Propecia (1mg finasteride) is about half the cost of name brand, but still expensive. 100 days of generic is $134. An equivalent 100 days of cut up Proscar brand (5mg finasteride) is $112, which is what I’m taking now. If brand name Propecia is not an option for me, due to price, would it be better to get brand name Proscar or get generic Propecia (or just get generic Proscar)? I hear mixed reviews on each.

I of course like the price of generic Proscar the best, but want to make sure I’m getting something effective. I have heard Proscar brand is more likely to work than generic but also heard that cutting up pills can oxidize the pills quickly and also that potentially all of the active ingredient could be in just one section of the pill so the other 3 days you may be only getting a placebo. Lots of confusing info found.

My opinion is that as long as you purchase your drugs from a reputable source, generic finasteride is just as effective as name brand. I was using generic Proscar before I quit and it certainly affected my system in ways that would lead me to believe that it was doing exactly what it was supposed to do.

While it’s true that the active ingredient is not evenly distributed within the pill, the small difference in dose is not likely to be of concern when taken daily. Studies have shown that a 0.2mg dose may be nearly as effective for hair loss.

I too have heard about the risk of oxidation once the protective shell of the tablet is breached. For that reason I recommend cutting only one pill a time rather than the entire supply at once. Also note that women who are or may become pregnant should not handle cut tablets due to the risk of birth defects.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
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