Finasteride is a prescription drug that’s licensed to treat male pattern baldness symptoms in the UK. And some men choose to pay more for Propecia, the branded version of finasteride.
But in reality, there’s no difference between generic vs branded finasteride when it comes to effectiveness, results, or side effects. So should you opt for Propecia, or can you save money without compromising your hair by choosing generic finasteride?
Learn why Propecia is more expensive than generic finasteride, and understand the minimal differences between generic vs branded finasteride.
Table of Contents
- Why is finasteride available as a branded and generic medication?
- Why is generic finasteride cheaper than Propecia?
- Are there any differences between generic vs branded finasteride?
- Branded vs generic finasteride: side-by-side
- Branded vs generic finasteride: results
- Branded vs generic finasteride: side effects
- Should you choose Propecia or generic finasteride?
- Hair loss treatments at DrHair
- FAQs
Why is finasteride available as a branded and generic medication?
As a 1 mg tablet, finasteride is a licensed hair loss treatment for men with male pattern baldness. It’s also available at a 5 mg dose for treating benign prostate enlargement (BPE).
Finasteride was initially developed by Merck, a German pharmaceutical company. Merck initially developed finasteride 5 mg to treat BPE, and sold this under the brand name Proscar. Several years later, they developed a 1 mg dose of finasteride for treating hair loss. Since then, Merck has marketed and sold this version of finasteride under the brand name Propecia.
The patent for Propecia expired in 2013. Since then, generic finasteride without a brand name has become widely available.
Why is generic finasteride cheaper than Propecia?
Branded medications are almost always more expensive than generic versions. That’s because you’re paying for the name. There’s no difference in terms of active ingredients, effectiveness, or side effects between generic and branded finasteride.
DrHair supplies a generic finasteride formulation to eligible patients. As a wholesaler to other online retailers and pharmacies, we can offer the best possible prices to individual customers, too.
Are there any differences between generic vs branded finasteride?
There may be some slight variations in binding agents and other non-active ingredients, depending on which finasteride formula you choose. However, the active ingredient — finasteride — is exactly the same. And there’s no evidence that any of the supplementary ingredients make Propecia more effective than generic finasteride.
If you have known sensitivities to certain pharmaceutical products or ingredients, always check the label before taking any medication.
Branded vs generic finasteride: side-by-side
Discover the differences (and similarities) between generic and branded finasteride in the table below:
| Generic finasteride | Branded finasteride | |
| Name | Finasteride (1 mg) | Propecia |
| Licensed? | Yes | Yes |
| Dosage | 1 mg | 1 mg |
| Effectiveness | No difference | No difference |
| Side effects | No difference | No difference |
| Suitability | Adult men with male pattern baldness | Adult men with male pattern baldness |
| Cost (1 month) | £11.00 | £49.99 |
| Cost (6 months) | £58.98 | £210.00 |
| Prescription needed? | Yes | Yes |
Note: Costs are taken from the cheapest online supplier as of December 2024. For generic finasteride, DrHair prices are provided.
Branded vs generic finasteride: results
Because the active ingredient of Propecia and generic finasteride is the same, there’s no difference in results or effectiveness when it comes to generic vs branded finasteride. There’s also no difference in how finasteride works in generic or branded products.
Studies have shown that finasteride can curb hair loss in up to 83% of men with crown hair loss after 2 years of treatment, and 70% of those with temple hair loss after 1 year of treatment [1]. It can also trigger regrowth in 61% and 37% of men respectively.
Most finasteride users see visible results sooner than this, typically within 3-6 months. See how long finasteride takes to work to learn more.
Branded vs generic finasteride: side effects
Because there’s no difference in the active ingredient, there’s no difference in side effects either. Both types of hair loss treatment can result in adverse reactions. While uncommon, these may include:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Ejaculation problems
- Lower libido
- Depressive symptoms
If you experience any of these finasteride side effects, consider speaking with your doctor about how to manage this, and/or stop taking finasteride or Propecia. You can also learn how to reduce the side effects of finasteride.
Should you choose Propecia or generic finasteride?
There are no documented benefits of using Propecia rather than generic finasteride, and it costs substantially more. So many men choose to use generic finasteride to tackle their hair loss.
Others prefer the authority of a brand name drug, which is why they opt for Propecia.
Ultimately, the choice is yours — both branded and generic finasteride have been shown to be effective hair loss treatments.
Hair loss treatments at DrHair
Finasteride is one of several available hair loss solutions. To find out which treatments you’re eligible for, you’ll need to take our clinical assessment. Your results will be reviewed by our pharmacy team to ensure any treatments prescribed are suitable for you.
Take our online assessment to find out which hair loss treatments are available to you, and start your hair regrowth journey.
FAQs
Learn more about generic vs branded finasteride in these FAQs.
Propecia is the only type of branded 1 mg finasteride. A branded 5 mg finasteride version is also available under the name Proscar. This isn’t usually recommended for treating hair loss, though it may be prescribed off-label in some cases.
No. Both Propecia and generic finasteride are prescription-only drugs.
Like generic finasteride, Propecia has several known side effects. These include temporary hair shedding (which usually lasts no more than 4 weeks), as well as rare sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. Studies suggest these impact less than 4% of finasteride users [3].
Not usually. In general, women should avoid taking finasteride, whether it’s Propecia or generic, since it may cause birth defects in pregnancy and affect the menstrual cycle (though it may be prescribed to postmenopausal women). Minoxidil is usually a more appropriate hair loss treatment for women.
Whether you use Propecia or generic finasteride, it’s usually recommended to take 1 mg every day. While it may be possible to take finasteride every other day to reduce side effects, this may also limit the drug’s effectiveness.
