Finasteride Compounds

Thanks so much for writing this blog. When ever I have hair loss questions, I always start be searching your blog. I recently received an email from my doctor about his own brand of finasteride. In his email and on his website he refers to it as “compounded finasteride.” He also states that it is not an overseas generic and that is custom-compunded by a US Pharmacy. A quick google of “compounded finasteride” shows that there a few doctors in the US now offering this.

I was wondering if you knew anything about it? I’m all for saving money but I want to make sure I’m getting the same stuff. What exactly does “compounded” mean?

There are more and more “compounded” versions of finasteride on the market today. Most of these versions have the important medication, finasteride, along with other ingredients that when combined allow the physician to claim his or her own brand of finasteride. The important point here is that in most these concoctions, finasteride is the only FDA approved medication to combat hair loss and all other additives are very unlikely to help and from an effectiveness point of view, it must be taken orally as there is no science to support other ways to take it (skin, inhaling, or rectal use).

In most states, doctors are allowed to mix their own medications so if they know what they are doing and it is legal in the state that they do it in, then I guess it is legal. I know nothing about mixing medications. Some interesting historical reading includes:

• Encyclopedia: Apothecary
• A Physician’s Lexicon: The Art And Words Of The Apothecary
• History 1450-1789: Apothecaries