Finasteride vs Minoxidil: what is the difference?
Finasteride blocks the enzyme that makes DHT, the hormone behind male pattern hair loss, while minoxidil leaves hormones alone and widens scalp vessels.
Sources and notes
- The sentence under the titlefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedMoleculeFinder rule (RDKit MCS)Each molecule's own drawing, as its page shows it. The common core, 1 of 27 atoms, is too small to align on.
Side by side
| Finasteride | Minoxidil | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 372.5 g/molC23H36N2O2 | 209.25 g/molC9H15N5O |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 2 | 3 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Hormone medicines | Other |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Prescription medicine | OTC medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Amides | Amines |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA via PubChem | Danger | Not recorded |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
Sources and notes
- Molecular weightcomputedPubChemComputed from the structure; the formula is under each weight.
- Hydrogen-bond donorscomputedPubChemThe hydrogens on nitrogen or oxygen that each molecule can lend to a hydrogen bond, counted from its structure.
- Familyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Everyday groupfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Chemical groupscomputedFound by rule (RDKit)Each group is found in the structure by a chemical pattern.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 57363 (Finasteride) and 4201 (Minoxidil).
In more detail
Both are used for male pattern hair loss and they attack it from different directions. Finasteride blocks 5 alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, and DHT is what miniaturises the follicle, so finasteride addresses the cause. Minoxidil does nothing to hormones at all: it was a blood pressure medicine whose side effect was hair growth, and applied to the scalp it widens vessels and appears to lengthen the growth phase of the follicle. Finasteride is a prescription steroid-like molecule taken by mouth at 372.5; minoxidil is sold over the counter as a topical liquid or foam at 209.25. Because the mechanisms do not overlap they are commonly used together.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Finasteride and Minoxidil?
- Finasteride blocks the enzyme that makes DHT, the hormone behind male pattern hair loss, while minoxidil leaves hormones alone and widens scalp vessels.
- Is Finasteride bigger than Minoxidil?
- Finasteride is the heavier molecule, 372.5 g/mol against 209.25 g/mol for Minoxidil. Finasteride is C23H36N2O2 and Minoxidil is C9H15N5O.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.