Minoxidil vs Finasteride: Hair Loss Comparison | Dose Track
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Minoxidil vs finasteride: how do the two hair loss drugs differ?

Label use · Directions · Head-to-head study · Side effects

Short answer: Topical minoxidil (Rogaine) is an over-the-counter scalp product; finasteride (Propecia) is a daily prescription tablet for men only.12 In one open 12-month study of 65 men, hair improved in 80% on finasteride 1 mg vs 52% on 5% minoxidil.3 Both stop working if you stop using them.12

How do minoxidil and finasteride compare side by side?

From the Rogaine Drug Facts and Propecia prescribing information; study row from Arca 2004.
Topical minoxidil (Rogaine)Finasteride (Propecia)
How you get itOver the counter1Prescription2
Who it is forMen (5% foam); women have a 2% solution14Men only; not for women2
Where it works on the labelTop of the scalp; men's foam is not for a receding hairline1Male pattern hair loss; not shown for temple recession2
DirectionsMen's foam: half a capful twice a day. Women's 2%: 1 mL twice a day141 mg tablet once a day2
When to judge itResults may show at 2 months; stop and ask a doctor if no regrowth at 4 months1Usually 3 months or more2
If you stopHair loss begins again1Effect reverses within 12 months2
Head-to-head study, 12 monthsImproved in 52% (13 of 25)3Improved in 80% (32 of 40)3
Side effects to watchChest pain, fast heartbeat, dizziness, swelling, scalp irritation, unwanted facial hair1Year 1: decreased libido 1.8% vs 1.3%; erectile dysfunction 1.3% vs 0.7% on placebo2

Reviewed . Half-life figures are shown only where the value Dose Track uses agrees with the cited source.

How do they work differently?

Finasteride blocks the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone behind male pattern hair loss.2 Topical minoxidil is put on the scalp; its Drug Facts label describes it only as a hair regrowth treatment and does not explain how it works.1

What did the head-to-head study find?

A 2004 open, randomized study in Turkey gave 65 men either finasteride 1 mg a day (40 men) or 5% minoxidil solution twice a day (25 men) for 12 months. Hair improved in 80% on finasteride and 52% on minoxidil, and the authors found finasteride more effective. Six men on finasteride reported lower libido and one man on minoxidil had scalp irritation; these went away after stopping.3

The study was small, unequal in size and not blinded, so its numbers are rough. The Propecia and Rogaine labels do not say whether the two can be used together; the Rogaine label says not to use it with other medicines on the scalp, which does not cover tablets.1

What are the main safety points?

  • Minoxidil foam: for the scalp only; extremely flammable; ask a doctor first if you have heart disease; may be harmful in pregnancy or breastfeeding.1
  • Finasteride: contraindicated in pregnancy, and women who may be pregnant should not handle crushed or broken tablets. It lowers PSA, so a rise while on it should be checked.2

More detail: Propecia side effects, minoxidil tablet side effects, Oral vs topical minoxidil: what is the difference for hair loss?, and the Topical Minoxidil and Finasteride guides.

Oral vs topical minoxidil: what is the difference for hair loss?Off-label blood pressure tablet vs OTC Rogaine Saw palmetto vs finasteride: what do the trials show?Herbal supplement vs FDA-approved DHT blocker Finasteride vs dutasteride: how do Propecia and Avodart differ?Approved for hair loss vs approved for BPH only Ketoconazole shampoo vs minoxidil: what does each do for hair?Anti-dandruff shampoo vs OTC hair regrowth

Frequently asked questions

Is finasteride stronger than minoxidil?+
In one open 12-month study of 65 men, more improved on finasteride 1 mg (80%) than on 5% minoxidil (52%).3 That is a single small study, not a large blinded trial.
Can women use finasteride or minoxidil?+
Propecia is not for women.2 Women's Rogaine 2% solution is sold over the counter for women.4
How long until each one works?+
The Rogaine men's foam label says results may show at 2 months, and to ask a doctor if there is no regrowth by 4 months.1 The Propecia label says 3 months or more of daily use is usually needed.2
What happens if I stop?+
With minoxidil, hair loss begins again.1 With finasteride, the effect reverses within 12 months.2
Can I track both in Dose Track?+
Yes. Log the daily tablet and each scalp application with separate reminders.

Sources

  1. Men's Rogaine Unscented 5% minoxidil topical foam, Drug Facts (OTC). DailyMed, version of November 2024.
  2. Propecia (finasteride) tablets prescribing information, sections 1, 2, 5, 6, 12 and 14. DailyMed, version of October 2024.
  3. Arca E, et al. An open, randomized, comparative study of oral finasteride and 5% topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia. Dermatology. 2004;209:117-125.
  4. Women's Rogaine 2% minoxidil topical solution, Drug Facts (OTC). DailyMed, version of November 2024.

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