Switching regularly between generic Finasteride brands: Does taking different generic Finasteride brands to affect the results?

Question

Does taking different generic Finasteride brands affect the results? My pharmacy is giving me every month a different brand of Finasteride (1mg) for hair loss. They could not guarantee me that I would get every month the same brand. Therefore my question is if switching affects the results of Finasteride on hair?

Matthew Stanizzi, MD · Answer

Generic drug manufactures have to be at least be 80% similar to the branded medications. So there can be differences between generic forms of a medication. In general the manufactures have a high standard and you can switch between different generics and get the same biological result.

David Perez-Meza, MD, FISHRS · Answer

Excelente and frequent question. YES, there are differences. I have been recommending 1 mg oral Finasteride since 1997. I don't Conflict of Interest. I always recommend the BRAND from Merck, 1 mg is the first option or 5 mg (Proscar) to cut in 4 pieces and one piece everyday it is my second option. YES, I have seen different results and efficacy for hair loss patients with the generic medication in Europe, Mexico, USA and other countries. I have patients that buy the generic medication from China and India and we really don't know what they are taking. My recommendation is: to know what is the best generic medication and results in your CASE, talk to your pharmacist to get the same generic med every time or change your pharmacy. Good luck.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

90 % of males find this makes no difference. 10 % however self report that different brands affect the hair differently. This has never been rigorously studied.... but most males are not affected to an appreciable disease with different brands. I generally feels it’s nice to stick with one brand so to track progress the best.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Theoretically, all generic finasterides should be the same because the FDA of each country, controls the formulations. In practice,, however, patients tell me that there is a difference between the generics because they see changes when they move brands.

Switching regularly between generic Finasteride brands: Does taking different generic Finasteride brands to affect the results?

Answers (4)

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