Finasteride
Three finasteride products sit on this shelf: Propecia tablets for Androgenetic Alopecia, Finpecia tablets listed for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and Morr F, a spray combining finasteride with minoxidil.
Key points
- Finasteride may cause decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorder; the label lists sexual dysfunction that continued after stopping, and notes depression and suicidal ideation under postmarketing reactions.
- Propecia is indicated for male-pattern hair loss in men only and is not indicated for use in women or children.
- Propecia and Finpecia both come in 1 mg and 5 mg tablets; Morr F is a 5% spray in a 60 ml bottle, the only topical option here.
How does Finasteride work?
Finasteride blocks an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In men with male-pattern hair loss, the balding scalp contains shrinking follicles and higher DHT levels than hairy scalp. Finasteride lowers DHT in the scalp and blood, and appears to interrupt a key factor in the progression of hair loss in men who are genetically predisposed.
Brands and forms in this catalogue
Propecia is the brand-name tablet, marketed by Merck and available in 1 mg and 5 mg strengths. Finpecia, made by Cipla, is a generic finasteride tablet in the same strengths but listed for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia rather than hair loss. Morr F is the only non-tablet on this shelf: a 5% spray you apply to the scalp, pairing finasteride with minoxidil.
Several brands exist for one molecule because patent expiry lets different manufacturers produce the same active ingredient under their own names. The spray form matters for someone who cannot or does not want to swallow a tablet, and the minoxidil pairing means Morr F addresses Hair Loss through two mechanisms at once.