Finasteride vs Minoxidil

Finasteride vs Minoxidil is an article that aims to give you all the information you do not know about Finasteride vs Minoxidil and more. We kindly shared the main headings with you;

Male pattern hair loss, commonly known as androgenetic alopecia, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in males are both treated with finasteride. It is an FDA-approved drug.

BPH isn’t cancerous. Nevertheless, BPH symptoms could also be a sign of prostate cancer or other more serious problems.

Some of the other conditions that finasteride treats are,

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome. Cysts in the ovaries are a symptom of the disorder polycystic ovarian syndrome.
• Hirsutism, a disorder in which hair grows on body areas normally lacking hair
• Male patterned baldness

However, the use of finasteride to prevent prostate cancer is not approved.

What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?

The disease known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) causes your prostate to enlarge. Underneath your bladder and in front of your rectum is a gland called your prostate. It is around the size of a walnut and covers a portion of your urethra. Your urethra is a channel that allows you to expel sperm and urine from your body. The passage of urine and ejaculation through the urethra can be impeded if your prostate enlarges. For this reason, men with BPH typically have trouble urinating, a reduced flow of urination, hesitation when peeing, and a need to wake up in the middle of the night to urinate. Finasteride will lessen the severity of these symptoms and lower the likelihood that prostate surgery may be required.

The use of this medication is not advised in the following situations. See your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Breast cancer (for a male patient)
• Liver issues
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding a baby
• High-grade prostate cancer

This drug works by reducing the amount of DHT, a bodily hormone that promotes prostate growth. The 5-alpha-reductase enzyme’s activity is inhibited by finasteride. This enzyme converts testosterone to a different hormone, which in turn makes men’s prostates enlarge or cause them to lose hair. As a result, the prostate will shrink and more hair will grow on the scalp. It will raise testosterone levels in the body. Only as long as the medication is used will finasteride’s effects on the prostate and scalp persist. The prostate will start to grow after it is stopped, and hair loss will follow.Invest in your health, invest in a brighter future. Our comprehensive medical programs deliver real results, while you indulge in the beauty and serenity of our destination.

• If you have any allergies, including to any other medications, let your doctor or pharmacist know before using finasteride. Inactive chemicals in this product could result in allergic reactions or other issues.
• Get more information by talking to your pharmacist about the process. If you have any inquiries concerning this drug, consult your doctor.
• If you have a medical history of liver illness, prostate cancer, infections, or urinary issues, be sure to let your doctor or pharmacist know before using this drug.
• Be sure to disclose all of your product usages to your surgeon or dentist before the procedure (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
• In particular, women shouldn’t use finasteride when expecting or nursing a baby. An unborn or nursing child could be harmed by it.

Before starting to use finasteride and each time you get a refill, read the Patient Information Leaflet if it is available from your pharmacist. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any queries. The things you should pay attention to are listed below:

• Take this drug by mouth as prescribed by your doctor, typically once per day, with or without food.
• Women who are or may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the pills since it can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn child. An unborn male infant’s sex organ development may be abnormal as a result.
• To reap the greatest benefits from this drug, take it frequently. Keep in mind to take it every day at the same time.

Avoid stopping this drug without first talking to your doctor. A benefit might not be apparent for about six to twelve months.

Finasteride may reduce the signs and symptoms of BPH and offer advantages such as,

• Reduced need to urinate
• Improved urine flow with less straining
• A diminished sense that the bladder is not fully emptied
• Finasteride will enhance the number of scalp hairs in men who are experiencing hair loss, but it will not improve the quantity of body hair.

You should keep in mind that your doctor recommended this drug because she or he thought it would benefit you more than it would harm you. Some users report no significant negative effects from this drug. Inform your doctor right away if you experience any serious side effects as follows,

• A decline in sexual capacity or desire. The quantity of semen delivered during intercourse may be reduced in some men by this medicine. Although this is not harmful, some men have continued to experience it long after stopping the medication.
• Acceleration in hair growth  
• Breast lump
• Nipple discharge
• Breast enlargement/tenderness/pain
• Testicular pain
• Inability to urinate

Interactions between drugs can alter how well your treatments work or put you at risk for major adverse effects. Maintain a list of everything you use, including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications, and give it to both your doctor and pharmacist. Without consulting your doctor beforehand, never start, stop, or modify the dosage of any medications. This medicine may have an impact on the outcomes of a blood test used to diagnose prostate cancer (prostatic-specific antigen or PSA levels). Tell your doctors and the healthcare team that you use this medication.

Finasteride can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as pharmacological and therapeutic therapies, dietary changes, and Minoxidil, and is generally thought to be highly safe and successful to use. Also to treat BPH, finasteride can be taken alone or in combination with other medications, like an alpha-blocker (doxazosin, Cardura).

The main issue to be aware of is the potential for unintentionally creating abnormally high blood levels of finasteride, which could result in more severe adverse effects. However, according to the FDA label for finasteride, there are no significant drug interactions connected to this medication.

In fact, several medications, including Minoxidil, more widely known as Rogaine®, can enhance the beneficial effects of finasteride. Although it is a topical treatment, minoxidil does not block DHT. Instead, it works by boosting blood flow to the bodily areas that require it the most.

As a side note, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone that is crucial for the sexual development of those who are born as males (AMAB). In other words, DHT is specifically an androgen, a hormone that promotes the emergence of male traits.

Considering that Minoxidil doesn’t work in the same way as Finasteride, combining the two can improve how well each drug works to combat and perhaps even reverse the consequences of hair loss.

Minoxidil is utilized for hair growth and slow balding. For those under 40 who have recently lost hair, it is the most effective. Retinuing hairlines are unaffected by Minoxidil. The majority of newly grown hair is lost within a few months after the treatment is stopped, therefore it does not treat baldness. It is clinically proven to take between 2-4 months for males and roughly 4 months for women to exhibit results.

• If you have any drug or minoxidil allergies, inform your doctor and pharmacist right away.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about guanethidine (Ismelin), other high blood pressure medications, and vitamins or any other prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are taking.
• Inform your doctor if you now have or have ever had a scalp, kidney, liver, or heart condition.
• If you are expecting a child, intend to get pregnant, or are a nursing mother, let your doctor know. Call your doctor if you get pregnant while taking Minoxidil. 
• Use protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Minimize excessive or prolonged sun exposure. Your skin may become more sun-sensitive when you use Minoxidil.

If you want to learn more about Finasteride vs Minoxidil, continue reading.

Minoxidil can be used in the form of a topical solution or topical foam. Before using Minoxidil, consult your doctor if your scalp develops abrasions, irritations, or sunburn.

Using a topical solution of Minoxidil

• Before using this drug, make sure your hair and scalp are thoroughly dry. Start in the middle of the scalp area being treated and apply the recommended amount. With the provided applicator, apply the solution as directed by your doctor.
• Don’t shampoo for 4 hours after using minoxidil.
• Wash your hands right away to get rid of any medication that may have gotten on them after using this medication.
• After applying the Minoxidil solution, avoid drying the scalp with a hairdryer. The therapy can be less effective if you blow on your scalp using a hairdryer.
• After application, including before going to bed, give the Minoxidil 2 to 4 hours to completely dry. If your hair or scalp is not completely dry after using the medication, Minoxidil may discolor clothes or caps.
• When the medication is wet, avoid transferring it to other body regions. If you don’t wash your hands after using minoxidil, the medication may end up on your pillowcase or other bed linens.

Using topical Minoxidil foam

• The container can be opened by aligning the arrow on the can ring with the arrow on the cap. Take the cap off.
• To show the scalp’s thinning hair, part the hair into one or more rows.
• To get foam on your fingertips, hold the can upside-down and squeeze the nozzle.
• Spread the foam with your fingertips over the area where you’re losing hair, then massage it gently into your scalp.
• Wash your hands right away to get rid of any leftover medication on them after using this medication.

Topical Minoxidil foam or solution can be only applied to the scalp. Keep your mouth, nose, and eyes away when using this medication. Immediately rinse the area with lukewarm tap water if you get any in your eyes, nose, or mouth. A pump spray should only be used when absolutely necessary. Use the foam away from heat sources and lit matches when smoking. Never fire the aerosol can, shatter it, or puncture it.

• Minoxidil often comes with patient instructions. Please take the time to thoroughly read the instructions. You must only use this medication in accordance with the directions provided.
• Use no more than your doctor has prescribed, both in terms of quantity and frequency. Doing so can increase its likelihood of being absorbed via the skin which may lead to unfavorable results. Applying Minoxidil to other body parts is not advised for the same reason. Unwanted side effects could result from absorption into the body and have an impact on the heart and blood vessels. Use just Minoxidil on the area of skin that you are already using other skin care products on.
• As long as the scalp is rinsed right before using the hair coloring, permanent, or relaxer, Minoxidil therapy is compatible with these procedures. However, 24 hours before and after the hair treatment process, Minoxidil shouldn’t be utilized.
• If you miss a dose, to make up for it, do not try to double your Minoxidil dosage.

The FDA-approved ingredient minoxidil, which is used in topical shampoos for hair loss treatment, encourages blood and oxygen flow to the hair follicles. To clarify, minoxidil,

• Reduces hair loss
• Stimulates hair follicles to begin producing hair again
• Extends the hair growth cycle’s anagen phase
• Stimulates blood flow in tiny blood vessels resulting in fuller hair

While not all of the listed-below adverse effects are likely, if they develop, they can require medical treatment. If any of the following side effects appear, consult your doctor right away:

• Itching or rashing on the skin
• Acne at the site of the application
• Scalp burning
• Facial hair growth
• Increasing baldness
• Inflamed or irritated skin near the hair root
• Vision blurriness or other vision changes
• Chest discomfort
• Dizziness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Fainting
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Face, hands, feet, or lower legs edema, or numbness or tingling in those areas
• Extra weight (rapid)

Store this medication out of children’s reach in the tightly closed, original container. Keep it in a room-temperature storage space (not in the bathroom) away from excessive heat and moisture. All medications should be kept out of the sight and reach of children, as many containers (such as weekly pill containers and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for toddlers to open. For this reason, always lock safety caps and put the medication in a secure spot right away that is up and away from young children in order to prevent poisoning.

The disposal of the medicine should be made carefully in order to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting the leftovers. This drug should not be flushed down the toilet. A medicine take-back program is a preferable method for getting rid of your medication. For information about take-back initiatives in your neighborhood, speak with your pharmacist or get in touch with the waste/recycling department of your city.

If you want to compare Finasteride vs Minoxidil in terms of cost, we are here to help you. Finasteride vs Minoxidil cost comparison is as follows,

Depending on the pharmacy you go to, 30 Finasteride oral tablets 5 mg costs roughly $12. On the other hand, 60 milliliters of 5% Minoxidil topical solution costs roughly $30.