Proscar was originally used for the treatment and reduction of benign prostatic hyperplasia and marketed under the trade name Proscar by Merck and Co. On December 22 1997, 1mg of Oral finasteride was approved by the FDA as a treatment for Male Pattern Baldness.

Proscar (Finasteride) as a hair loss medication is the cost effective way to battle male pattern baldness. One divided Proscar tablet provides five daily doses of Finasteride (the active ingredient in one Propecia tablet) and is much less expensive than Propecia