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Finasteride (Propecia)

Propecia™ is the only FDA approved pill for hair loss. It's main ingredient, finasteride, was first developed to treat men with an enlarged prostrate condition known as benign prostratic hyperplasia (BPH). Finasteride is manufactured by Merck & Co.

"Based on a photographic assessment by an expert panel of dermatologists following 5 years of clinical studies. Most men see results 3 to 12 months after starting PROPECIA." - Merck "The effectiveness of PROPECIA was demonstrated in studies of men, aged 18 to 41, with mild to moderate hair loss at the top and middle front of the head. There is not sufficient evidence that PROPECIA works for receding hairlines at the temples."

Finasteride blocks an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which is necessary to change testosterone into dihyrdotesterone that causes the prostate to grow. When DHT is produced, it also attacks the hair follicles, slowly causing them to shrink and eventually fall out. By blocking 5-alpha-reductase from forming DHT, hair follicle growth is no longer inhibited.

To clear up some confusion about finasteride, when marketed as a treatment for BPH, it goes by the name of Proscar and comes in 5mg pills. Propecia is the name used when marketed as a hair loss pill and comes in 1mg pills.

The results of a 5 year clinical study testing propecia for hair loss are widely known and include the following highlights:

• Two out of three men regrew hair as measured by hair count.

• Three out of four men were rated as improved by an independent panel of doctors.

• At the end of the 5 year study, an independent panel of dermatologists concluded that 90 percent of men using propecia either saw new hair growth or no new hair loss.

• A majority of men reported their bald spot got smaller and their hair loss slowed down while the overall appearance of their hair improved.

• Those taking Propecia may see improvements within 3 months of taking the pill. Maximum results will be visible by the second year of usage. Unfortunately, if one stops taking Propecia, all new hair growth will be lost in 12 months.

According to the rules of pharmacology, no pill can work effectively without side-effects and Propecia is no exception. During the clinical trials, side-effects occured in less then 2 percent of men and decreased to .3 percent by the 5th year of the study. The most notable of these side-effects included ...less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection, and a decrease in the amount of semen. (Merck)

Other side-effects included: allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives, and swelling of the lips and face; problems with ejaculation; breast tenderness and enlargement; and testicular pain.

Finasteride is not indicated for women and should not be used by them as it may cause birth defects in males.

The manufacturer warns: 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. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active ingredient in PROPECIA, a doctor should be consulted. PROPECIA tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets are not broken or crushed.

A one month supply of Propecia can cost on average $100+ for 30 pills. Over one year, the patient cost is about $1,200 which leads to $12,000 for treatment over 10 years if the price does not increase. However, in just the last 3 years (2006 to 2009) the price of Propecia has DOUBLED. When compared to hair transplants, Propecia costs can far exceed hair grafts when factored over a life time of necessary use for the medication.

However, for those who can afford both treatments, Propecia and hair transplants can radically reverse your hair loss and give you a more youthful head of hair.

Article by Staff
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Sources and Further Reading:
Finasteride
Frontal Hair Loss