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Aldactone vs. Proscar

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Spironolactone (Aldactone) and finasteride (Proscar) are both prescription medications, but they serve different purposes and belong to different drug classes. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic used to treat conditions like heart failure, high blood pressure, and swelling due to liver or kidney problems. It works by blocking aldosterone, which helps your kidneys remove extra water and sodium without lowering potassium levels. On the other hand, finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which helps shrink the prostate and ease urinary symptoms. Spironolactone can cause side effects like breast tenderness and lower sex drive, while finasteride may lead to sexual side effects such as difficulty having an erection and lower sex drive. Additionally, finasteride is not safe for pregnant women to handle, whereas spironolactone is not recommended during pregnancy due to potential harm to the baby. Both medications are available in lower-cost generic forms.

Spironolactone

(Aldactone)

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Finasteride

(Proscar)

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Summary for Aldactone

Prescription only

Spironolactone (Aldactone) is a type of potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill). It's used to treat heart failure, high blood pressure, and swelling from kidney or liver problems in adults. Because it blocks aldosterone (a hormone that affects sodium and potassium levels), spironolactone (Aldactone) can also treat conditions where there's too much aldosterone. Spironolactone (Aldactone) is taken by mouth, generally once or a few times a day, depending on your condition. Some common side effects of this medication include breast tenderness (males and females) and loss of libido (in males).

Indications for Aldactone

Pros and Cons for Aldactone

Pros

  • Taken by mouth
  • Oral suspension available for adults who've difficulty swallowing tablets
  • Lower-cost generics available

Cons

  • Can make you urinate more often
  • Need to get blood tests regularly to check your electrolytes and kidney health
  • Can cause breast growth and lower sex drive in males

Common Side Effects for Aldactone

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Sleepiness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach cramps
  • Enlargement of male breasts
  • Breast pain
  • Lower sex drive
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Irregular or lack of menstrual periods
  • Leg cramps
  • Higher potassium levels
  • Lower sodium levels

Warnings for Aldactone

  • High blood potassium levels
  • Low blood pressure and kidney problems
  • Abnormal electrolyte levels
  • Breast pain or swelling

Summary for Proscar

Prescription only

Finasteride (Proscar) is a medication used alone or with doxazosin (Cardura) to treat men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It’s typically recommended for those with an enlarged prostate who also have symptoms, such as problems urinating. But it can take up to 6 months to work. Luckily, the medication comes as a lower-cost generic option.

Indications for Proscar

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

  • Relieves urinary symptoms
  • Lessens the need for prostate surgery

Pros and Cons for Proscar

Pros

  • Works to relieve symptoms in people with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Doesn’t interact with many medications
  • Can be used in people who have kidney problems

Cons

  • Some men might have sexual side effects like inability to have an erection
  • Typically used as a long-term therapy
  • Requires regular prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests

Common Side Effects for Proscar

Finasteride (Proscar) daily treatment by itself:

  • Inability to have an erection (5-8%)
  • Lower sex drive (3-6%)
  • Decrease in ejaculation amount (2-4%)

Finasteride (Proscar) taken with doxazosin (Cardura)*:

  • Dizziness (23%)
  • Inability to have an erection (23%)
  • Low blood pressure when getting up (18%)
  • Feeling tired (17%)
  • Abnormal ejaculation (14%)
  • Lower sex drive (12%)

*Since both finasteride (Proscar) and doxazosin (Cardura) were both taken daily, side effects might not be entirely due to finasteride (Proscar).

Warnings for Proscar

  • Harm to unborn baby
  • Lowered prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels
  • High-risk prostate cancer

Prices with our coupons for Aldactone vs. Proscar

Price Card Drug Icon
Spironolactone30 tablets / 25mg
$9.47$19.70
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Price Card Drug Icon
Finasteride90 tablets / 5mg
$20.38$238.85
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