search results for propecia

back to: pharmacy | ask your pharmacist

Are Propecia and Proscar the same medicine? Can I split Proscar tablets?

Although Propecia and >Proscar both contain the same active ingredient called finasteride, they are very different medicines and should not be interchanged. Proscar is a 5-mg tablet used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlargement of the prostate gland. Propecia is a 1-mg tablet used to treat male-pattern baldness.

Proscar tablets are apple-shaped. We do not recommend splitting a Proscar tablet to get the same dose as a Propecia tablet because it's nearly impossible to cut a tablet into five evenly-sized pieces without having it crumble. If the pieces aren't the same size, you won't know what dose you're taking.

Sources:
Proscar product information, Merck & Co., Inc., 2006.
Propecia product information, Merck & Co., Inc., 2006.
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2006.

This answer prepared 1/17/2001.
This information updated 12/05/2006

You searched for "Propecia"

Here's what we found

Please click a question below for your pharmacist's response.

•	What is Propecia?
•	Are there any prescription treatments for hair loss?
•	What are the side effects of Propecia?
•	Are Propecia and Proscar the same medicine? Can I split Proscar tablets?
•	Can Propecia and Rogaine be used at the same time?
•	Are there any drug interactions with Propecia?
•	What is hair loss and how does it occur?
(1 - 7 of 7)