Propecia (Finasteride) Information

Propecia (Finasteride)

Propecia Information

Finasteride is the generic name of a medication that has been sold under the brand name propecia to treat a condition known as male pattern baldness (mpb). As a treatment for mpb, it was approved by the US food and drug administration on december 19, 1997.

Male pattern baldness usually involves thinning or complete loss of hair on the crown (top of head) and a receding hair line. It is the most common form of hair loss in men, and is the result of genetic predisposition.

Propecia works by reducing the body's production of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (dht). Dihydrotestosterone, which is produced naturally in the human body, is known to be the primary chemical responsible for male pattern baldness.

Propecia Dosage

Propecia is prescribed for the treatment of mild to moderate male pattern hair loss in men over 18 years of age. It has not been tested on, and should not be consumed by, people under 18 years old.

Further testing is necessary but propecia is not, at the present time, recommended for women who experience hair loss.

The sooner you notice male pattern baldness and get started on propecia, the better your chances are of keeping the hair you have, and growing more hair as treatment progresses. Propecia is not a cure for male pattern baldness, it is a treatment.

For most men it will stop or reduce hair loss. A smaller percentage of men will re-grow hair that was lost prior to starting treatment.

However if treatment with propecia is discontinued, within a year hair loss will return to the point it was prior to when you started this medication.

The recommended dosage is 1 milligram, consumed orally once a day (you can take it with or without food). After treatment is started, it will usually take at least 3 months before you can tell if it is working.

If you have been treated with propecia for 12 months or more and have not seen an improvement in your hair, this medication will probably not work for you and should be discontinued.

Male pattern baldness may strike people who are in their 20's, sometimes younger. If there is a history of male pattern baldness in your family, you might want to start propecia as soon as you notice hair loss or even prior to it.

For instance, if you know a majority of the male members of your family started showing signs of male pattern baldness in their early 30's, you can start propecia sometime around your 30th birthday.

In most countries a prescription is required to obtain propecia. However, depending on what part of the world you live in, it may be available over the counter (or behind the counter) without a prescription.

To save money you can buy generic propecia, it costs less than the brand name product and produces the same results. Another cost saving measure is to split 5 milligram pills into 4 pieces with a pill splitter. Pill splitters are sold at most pharmacies.

If you choose to split pills, do so in an area that can be cleaned up easily and where children or pregnant/nursing mothers will not come into contact with the powder produced when the pills are split and small pieces break off.

In addition to being prescribed as a treatment for male pattern hair loss, finasteride has also been marketed under the brand name proscar to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (bph).

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is an enlargement of the prostate gland, can cause frequent/difficult urination and suddenly being unable to pass urine.

Although finasteride is prescribed in 5 milligram doses for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and only 1 milligram doses for male pattern baldness, it may have a beneficial effect on the prostate when consumed for treating hair loss.

Propecia Side Effects

The side effects and warnings listed below are some of the more important ones. It is recommended that you read the entire information sheet that is available for propecia by visiting the Merck website and doing a search for propecia.

Clinical studies have shown that side effects are uncommon and do not affect most men, but there are some things to be aware of. Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience any of the side effects listed below, or if you feel that propecia is somehow affecting you in a negative way.

The most common side effects that have been reported are: rash, itching, hives, swelling of the lips and face, problems with ejaculation, testicular pain, breast tenderness and enlargement.

A small number of men had sexual side effects, with each occurring in less than 2% of men. These include less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection, and a decrease in the amount of semen.

The sexual side effects will go away if you stop taking propecia. In addition, if you remain on propecia, these side effects tend to decrease as time passes. Less than 0.3% of men experience sexual side effects by the fifth year of treatment.

Propecia can affect a blood test called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) for the screening of prostate cancer. If you have a PSA test done, tell your doctor that you are taking propecia.

You should not take propecia if you are allergic to finasteride or any of the ingredients in propecia. If you experience hives, itching, rash, or swelling after ingesting this medication it might be an indication of an allergic reaction.

Women who are (or may potentially be) pregnant must not use propecia and should not handle crushed or broken propecia tablets because the active ingredient may cause abnormalities of a male baby’s sex organs.

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