Propecia (Finasteride)
Propecia - Finasteride is
FDA hair growth treatment drug approved,
available by prescription at your
pharmacy. This page includes Finasteride patients' side
effects,
interactions & indications.
In reality, there is currently no
medication which cures baldness. There are some hair
loss products that can help slow down
the process but there is no cure for the
most common type of hair loss called
male pattern baldness.
Male-pattern baldness typically occurs in
men between 20 and 45 because of high levels of androgens, such as
testosterone and dihydroxy-testosterone (DHT). Androgenic alopecia
develops as a gradual reduction in hair follicle size and shorter cycles
in the active growth phase. There are two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration and
are shown to have some positive effect on balding, Finasteride and
Minoxidil. The
5-alpha-reductace inhibitors medical drugs
Finasteride and Minoxidil are
most widely used as medical hair loss treatments for men.
Finasteride As Propecia Also Proscar
Hair Growth Drug
Finasteride, brand name Propecia
is a prescription pill which is taken once a day and is presently only approved for use in men. Propecia
originally was used for prostate treatment, and now it is prescribed as a
treatment for hair loss in men. Propecia is a 4 AZA steroid
compound that is a specific inhibitor of type 2, 5 Alpha Reductase which
is the enzyme that metabolizes the androgen testosterone into
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
It is DHT that causes male pattern baldness. In some cases the drug has
been shown to stop hair loss and show some hair growth.
Research has shown that it
has only shown hair growth in younger men as
peach fuzz hair. Propecia must be
taken for a period of 3 months or more before any benefit is seen, and it
must be continued in order to maintain any benefits gained.
Upon stopping the use of the drug, any hair re-growth will fall out
within 6 months.
top
Propecia side effects according
to National Medical Library: Breast
enlargement and tenderness, skin rash
and swelling of lips are more likely to
occur with the 5-mg dose. Abdominal
pain, back pain, decreased interest in
sex, decreased amount of semen,
diarrhea, dizziness, headache, impotence
(inability to have or keep an
erection).
Propecia is for MEN ONLY. Propecia,
brand name of Finasteride is dangerous
to women in fertility age. Women who
are or may potentially be pregnant must
not use or touch propecia because of the
risk that active ingredient may cause
birth defect. Women should avoid
handling tablets that are crushed or
broken, according to Merck.
As hair loss symptoms occurs a physician diagnosis is needed to evaluate the underlying
disorder responsible for the hair loss.
Did you
know... If you have sudden hair loss,
you should first check with your family doctor or internist to find your hair
loss cause . A dermatologist will treat skin infections that cause hair
loss. It may be necessary for you to see an endocrinologist for
hormone imbalances, namely androgens.
