Hair Loss // Propecia
Propecia is the only oral treatment currently approved and proven to help reduce
men's hair loss.
Propecia helps with two types of male-pattern hair loss: on the vertex
(top of head) and on the anterior mid-scalp area (middle front of head). It's effect
on receding hairlines at the temples hasn't been established yet.
How Propecia Is Used
Propecia is taken by mouth, one pill a day. It is a long-term treatment: patients usually take Propecia for more than 3
months before there is a noticeable effect on their hair loss.
When Propecia kicks in, it reduces the rate of hair loss as well as causing some
hair to regrow. Results vary from patient to patient but generally you should not expect
to grow back all the hair you have lost.
If you take Propecia for 12 months and still don't see an effect, the drug is probably not effective for you
and you should stop taking it.
Propecia is effective for as long as you take it. If you stop taking it, you will
probably lose all the hair you have gained within the following 12 months.
How Propecia Works
The active ingredient in Propecia, finasteride, inhibits the formation of DHT in
the patient's scalp. Reducing the amount of DHT appears to inhibit the shrinking of
affected hair follicles, thereby preventing further hair loss and helping to regain
hair.
Who Should and Shouldn't Use Propecia
As mentioned above, Propecia is proven to help with hair loss on the top of the head
and on the middle front of the head. It hasn't been shown to help with receding temples
and should not be used for that purpose.
Either way, Propecia is meant for men only and should not be taken by women or
children. It will not affect a woman's hair loss and may harm her health.
Pregnant women should avoid touching Propecia tablets that have been crushed or broken.
The active ingredient in Propecia is harmful to unborn babies and can be absorbed in
the skin. Propecia tablets are coated and therefore safe for pregnant women to touch, but
not if the coating is broken.
Other Important Notes
Propecia has potential sexual side effects. These are very rare, each occurring in less
than 2% of patients. The effects include negative changes in desire for sex, the ability
to achieve erection, and the amount of semen produced. If you take Propecia and experience
any of these side effects, you may have to stop taking Propecia for them to pass.
For a list of all possible side effects from using Propecia, consult your doctor or pharmacist
or read the product leaflet (which is also available online in the official Propecia website).
More Information
See the official Propecia website.
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