Proscar Vs. Propecia
There are thousands of drugs on the market, and it's easy to get them confused. They almost always have complex names, and to make matters worse, some of these complex names sound very similar to each other. To the untrained ear Propecia and Proscar could be easily mistaken for one another. In fact, they are the very same drug. But there are still some differences you should be made aware of if you're looking at using one of these medications.
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Proscar
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As men age, their testosterone is converted into DHT, which is directly involved in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BHP. Proscar is prescribed to shrink the prostate in order to alleviate different urination problems that come with BHP, thus making surgery unnecessary.
Propecia
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DHT not only causes the prostate to enlarge, but it's also the main cause of hair loss. Propecia works by inhibiting the formation of DHT in the scalp, thus preventing male pattern baldness.
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The Similarities
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If you haven't noticed already, Proscar and Propecia both do the same thing. They inhibit the conversion of testosterone into DHT. DHT just happens to be the main culprit for both an enlarged prostate, as well as male pattern hair loss. It shouldn't surprise you then, to learn that they are in fact, the exact same drug: finasteride.
The Differences
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While they are the same drug, they are not the same dosage. Proscar is a 5 mg dosage each day, whereas Propecia is only a 1 mg dosage. The other main difference is that Propecia is a brand-name only drug and is rarely covered by insurance plans. Proscar is available in generic, making it much more affordable, and more than likely covered by your insurance.
Talk To Your Doctor
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So the final question remains, "Can I just ask my doctor to prescribe me generic Proscar (finasteride) instead of having to pay for Propecia?" Absolutely. Doctors use different medications for different purposes all the time. But you need to be honest with your doctor, and talk to her about what you need and why you need it.
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