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(finasteride)
Propecia®, or finasteride, is indicated for the treatment of male pattern hair loss . Propecia® is to be used for men only. Propecia® should not be used in women or children. Propecia® can be used safety for men ages 18 to 41 years of age with mild to moderate hair loss of the vertex and anterior mid-scalp area. Efficacy in bitemporal recession has not been established.
The recommended dosage for Propecia® is 1mg per day. Propecia® may be taken with or without food. Propecia® will take about 3 months before benefits are observed. Continued use of Propecia® is recommended to sustain benefits. If you have taken Propecia® for 12 months and have not seen results, it is not likely that Propecia® will benefit you.
Although side effects are not likely to occur they may include impotence, decreased sex drive or decrease in amount of ejaculate. If you notice any other effects not listed while taking Propecia®, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Before taking Propecia®, tell your doctor about your medical history, especially if it includes liver disease, prostate cancer, urinary tract disease, or drug allergies. This will help to determine what, if any, side effects you might experience.
Side effects are difficult to predict. Some side effects are normal, while other side effects are not. Always discuss any side effects you are experiencing while taking any prescription medication, including Propecia®, with your doctor.
You should always talk to your doctor before taking any medication, including Propecia®.
Male pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss in men. Male pattern baldness is normally the result of hormones and genetic predisposition. Male pattern baldness can start by the existing hair becoming finer and shorter. With male pattern baldness, the hair will recede, and the hair near the crown will thin. Eventually this will leave a horseshoe shaped hair pattern.
Treatment for male pattern baldness is not necessary. However, some men who suffer from male pattern baldness seek treatment.
If you feel you suffer from male pattern baldness and would like information about treatment, talk to your doctor to see if Propecia® is right for you.
Propecia® ( Finasteride) Cuts Risk of Further Visible Hair Loss in Men
July, 2002
In men with androgenetic alopecia, treatment with finasteride (Propecia®) 1 mg/d for five years leads to a marked and sustained reduction in the risk of developing further visible hair loss.
The findings were reported here at the 20th World Congress of Dermatology (WCD).
In two replicate, double-blind studies, men aged 18 to 41 years with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) received finasteride (Propecia®) 1 mg or placebo for up to five years. Global photographic assessment of scalp hair growth by an expert panel showed the superiority of finasteride (Propecia®) over placebo.
In a post-hoc analysis, Dr. Keith Kaufman, of Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway , New Jersey , United States , and colleagues examined the effect of finasteride (Propecia®) on the five-year risk of developing further hair loss based on these GPA data.
The analysis included 713 patients who received finasteride (Propecia®) 1 mg/day (645 patients) or placebo (68 patients) continuously from randomisation to study completion or discontinuation. All patients underwent global photographic assessments during the five-year study period.
Finasteride (Propecia®) treatment led to a 93 percent reduction in the risk of developing further visible hair loss from baseline to end point, relative to placebo. Development of further visible hair loss was observed in the majority of placebo-treated patients by year 3.
The highest rates of further visible hair loss for placebo patients occurred in men of younger age, earlier onset of hair loss, longer duration of hair loss, more severe hair loss pattern, and/or parental history of hair loss.
"These findings suggest that there are differences among men with [androgenetic alopecia] with respect to susceptibility of scalp hair follicles to continued follicular miniaturization," Dr. Kaufman said.
Regardless of the subgroup examined, treatment with finasteride (Propecia®) reduced the risk of further visible hair loss relative to placebo, confirming the key role of dihydrotestosterone produced by type II 5 alpha-reductase in mediating hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia, he added.
The study was supported by Merck Research Laboratories.
This article was originally published by http://www.euromeds.co.uk/information-on-propecia.htm#pr2.