{"id":60703,"date":"2023-10-06T10:35:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T14:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60703"},"modified":"2025-05-09T17:22:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T21:22:27","slug":"vaniqa-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/vaniqa-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaniqa (eflornithine) alternatives: What can I take instead of Vaniqa?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vaniqa<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>eflornithine cream<\/span>) is a prescription medication applied as a <\/span>topical cream<\/span> to help reduce excessive <\/span>facial hair<\/span>. This cream is typically used in females on areas of the body with unwanted hair, like the face, and under the chin (a condition known as hirsutism). <\/span>Hirsutism<\/span> can be associated with emotional distress and depression, and usually indicates an endocrine disorder like <\/span>polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Vaniqa<\/span> works by stopping an <\/span>enzyme<\/span>, <\/span>ornithine decarboxylase<\/span> (ODC), that affects the rate of <\/span>hair growth<\/span> and is applied as a <\/span>thin layer<\/span> directly onto the <\/span>affected areas<\/span> of the skin. <\/span>Vaniqa cream<\/span> takes about four to eight weeks to notice decreased <\/span>hair growth<\/span> and may cause <\/span>skin irritation<\/span> in the <\/span>treated area<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, a drug shortage of <\/span>Vaniqa<\/span> led to an announcement in 2023 by the drug manufacturer, Allergen, that they <\/span>discontinued production<\/span><\/a> of <\/span>Vaniqa<\/span>. Because this medication is no longer available, people may be in search of alternative medication options. Possible alternatives include combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives (COCs) and anti-androgens.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>5 effective PCOS treatments<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What can I take instead of <\/span>Vaniqa<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While <\/span>Vaniqa<\/span> was an effective treatment for some people, they may need to find an alternative treatment for reducing <\/span>unwanted facial hair,<\/span> as <\/span>Vaniqa<\/span> is no longer available. There are other options available for the treatment of <\/span>facial hair<\/span> reduction. These alternative prescription medications include combined estrogen-progestin oral <\/span>contraceptives<\/span> (COCs) and <\/span>anti-androgens<\/span><\/a>. There are various kinds of COCs, as they can differ in the estrogen and progestin components. According to the recommendations by the <\/span>Endocrine Society<\/span><\/a>, all oral <\/span>contraceptive<\/span> alternatives appear to be equally effective for <\/span>hirsutism<\/span>, and the risk of <\/span>side effects<\/span> is low. These guidelines also state that the anti-androgen alternatives are equally effective. These options may be more suitable for certain individuals due to their different uses, <\/span>side effect<\/span> profiles, and costs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Compare Vaniqa (eflornithine) alternatives<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vaniqa<\/span> (<\/span>eflornithine<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nFacial hair<\/span> reduction<\/span><\/td>\nApply a <\/span>thin layer<\/span> to <\/span>affected areas<\/span> of the face and areas under the chin twice daily, at least 8 hours apart.<\/span><\/td>\nVaniqa<\/span> coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Combined estrogen-progestin oral <\/span>contraceptive<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethinyl estradiol\/Norethindrone (Charlotte Fe, Junel Fe, Microgestin Fe)<\/span><\/td>\n

–<\/span>Hirsutism<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/span>Contraception<\/span><\/p>\n

-Acne<\/span><\/p>\n

-Dysmenorrhea<\/span><\/p>\n

-Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily in the order presented in the blister pack<\/span><\/td>\nCharlotte Fe coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Junel Fe coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Microgestin Fe coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Combined estrogen-progestin oral <\/span>contraceptive<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethinyl estradiol\/Levonorgestrel (Aviane, Balcoltra, Lessina)<\/span><\/td>\n

–<\/span>Hirsutism<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/span>Contraception<\/span><\/p>\n

-Acne<\/span><\/p>\n

-Dysmenorrhea<\/span><\/p>\n

-Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily in the order presented in the blister pack<\/span><\/td>\nAviane coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Balcoltra coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Lessina coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Combined estrogen-progestin oral <\/span>contraceptive<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethinyl estradiol\/Norgestimate<\/span><\/p>\n

(Estarylla, Mili, Sprintec)<\/span><\/td>\n

–<\/span>Hirsutism<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/span>Contraception<\/span><\/p>\n

-Acne<\/span><\/p>\n

-Dysmenorrhea<\/span><\/p>\n

-Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily in the order presented in the blister pack<\/span><\/td>\nEstarylla coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Mili coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Sprintec coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Combined estrogen-progestin oral <\/span>contraceptive<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethinyl estradiol\/Drospirenone (Beyaz, Loryna, Yaz)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

–<\/span>Hirsutism<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/span>Contraception<\/span><\/p>\n

-Acne<\/span><\/p>\n

-Dysmenorrhea<\/span><\/p>\n

-Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily in the order presented in the blister pack<\/span><\/td>\nBeyaz coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Loryna coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Yaz coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Aldactone (spironolactone)<\/span><\/td>\n–<\/span>Hirsutism<\/span><\/p>\n

-Hypertension<\/span><\/p>\n

-Heart failure<\/span><\/p>\n

-Moderate to severe acne in females<\/span><\/p>\n

-Female pattern <\/span>hair loss<\/span><\/p>\n

-Hormone therapy for transgender females (assigned male at birth)<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 25 to 400 mg by mouth daily in divided doses, depending on the indication<\/span><\/td>\nAldactone coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proscar (finasteride)<\/span><\/td>\n–<\/span>Hirsutism<\/span><\/p>\n

-Male pattern <\/span>hair loss<\/span> (androgenic <\/span>alopecia<\/span>)<\/span><\/p>\n

-Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 2.5 to 5 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nProscar coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to <\/span>Vaniqa<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are a variety of other generic and <\/span>brand-name<\/span> estrogen-progestin oral <\/span>contraceptives<\/span> (COCs)<\/span><\/a> that are not included in the table above that may be suitable alternatives to <\/span>Vaniqa<\/span>. For people unable to take COCs and other oral medications or those who want to try several <\/span>treatment options<\/span>, <\/span>hair removal treatments<\/span> can directly remove unwanted hair. <\/span>Hair removal methods<\/span> include shaving, <\/span>plucking<\/span>, <\/span>waxing<\/span>, <\/span>threading<\/span>, <\/span>electrolysis<\/span>, and photoepilation, which uses intense pulsed light to destroy the <\/span>hair follicles<\/span>. Some other COCs include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n