Drug Name

Propecia/Proscar (Finasteride)

Propecia Information

Technically known as finasteride , Propecia (one brand name) is designed to help men with inherited issues with hair loss to prevent or regain hair. It works by preventing testosterone from converting into dihydrotestosterone , which has been linked to male pattern baldness.

Propecia comes in tablet form and should be taken only by men without liver problems. It should be taken regularly and needs to be taken with water - food is optional.

By using Propecia, men no longer have to stand in front of that mirror wonder if family tradition is kicking in. No more walking down the hallway staring at your family photos while trying to find some resignation to your increasingly bald head. Today, you can stop this inheritance with a tried and true treatment.

Propecia is not the only name given to Finasteride. Merck & Co. sells Finasteride as Propecia and Proscar . Cipla is another company that makes Finasteride and markets it as Fincar and Finpecia . Dr. Reddy's used the names of Finax and Finast . Ranbaxy sells it as Finara and Inta s sells the same drug under the title of Finalo . If you were to buy the medicine from Aleppo Pharmaceutial, you would order it as Prosteride . Each of these companies is selling the exact same product under different names and for different prices. It is important when ordering medicines to insure that you know what it is that you are taking. None of these different names should ever be used by a women that is pregnant or could become pregnant, as stated earlier.

How Propecia Works?

Research proved that Propecia can control hair loss for 83 percent of men after just two years of treatment with a daily dose of 1 mg. Since Propecia arrived on the market in 1998 it has been the only prescription drug that the FDA has approved specifically for hair loss treatments.

Propecia has one main purpose and that is to stop hair loss and help men maintain what hair coverage they have left. This is the drug has become popular with men younger in age since they want to have something to help control their hair loss in the early stages. Although men of all ages often take this drug along with Minoxidil which offers the best hair loss strategy since it not only stops hair loss, but also helps to encourage the growth of new hair .

Propecia works by interfering with the androgenetic process of hair loss. The formation of DHT is prohibited with Propecia and after several months it helps to reduce the DHT levels to a sufficient level that helps to minimize the effects DHT has on the hair follicles. While you can find Propecia or other generic versions on the internet it is best to only use this product through the advice of a doctor.

Pattern Male Baldness Finds A Possible Cure In Propecia

Propecia is a wonder drug that is registered in many countries to fight male-pattern baldness. Its clinical name is Finasteride and was originally approved in 1992 as Proscar. In December 1997, the FDA approved finasteride as a treatment for male-pattern baldness. In 1992, it had been initially used as a medical treatment for prostate enlargement but was soon discovered to also treat the permanent pattern hair loss suffered by many men. It was upon this discovery, that it was soon approved by the FDA as one of only three known FDA-approved treatments for baldness.

Initially men that took propecia had to determine if regaining their hair was more important that the many side effects that were discovered. Two primary side effects included erectile dysfunction, and breast gland enlargement . However, these side effects were soon discovered to be short lived. With this information, men were able to safely take the medication without concern of lifelong side effects. Many of the side effects lasted only 6-8 hours after having taken a dosage. Other less favored side effects were found to discontinue immediately after the dosage was stopped.

Propecia Success Rates Bring Hope To Many

Over a five year study, Propecia was found to assist in decreasing hair loss in over 42% of those studied. Of the group study, 48% experienced some regrowth of hair that was previously lost.

Propecia Is Classified As A Pregnancy X Medicine

Propecia is not a drug that is safe for women in child bearing age to take. It is classified by the FDA under the pregnancy X classification, meaning that this drug is known to cause birth defects in unborn babies . It is so potent that pregnant women or women who could become pregnant should not even handle the crushed or broken tablets for fear that the medication could be absorbed through the skin and cause damage to an unborn child. It is undetermined if contact with a full unbroken pill could cause damage to an unborn child, so it is best if a woman simply does not handle this medication . The distributor of this prescription states that the semen of a man taking the medication does not pose a problem for a pregnant partner.

Proper Propecia Dosage and Usage

Propecia dosage and usage is both simple and complex. There is only one Propecia dosage which is 1 mg every day , but Propecia has many uses. As with most prescription medications, you should not alter Propecia dosage and usage without talking with your healthcare provider first. Also, it should only be done under their specific direction and specification.

Propecia Dosage

There are a few specifications when it comes to Propecia dosage and usage. First you should be sure you take it at the same time each day and never take a double dose of Propecia . You can take this medicine both with and without food, but if it irritates your stomach then you should try taking it with food. You may not notice results with Propecia for at least three months. The beneficial effects of the treatment will be gone within a year if you discontinue your treatment.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch up.

Propecia Warnings/Precautions

If you are planning on taking Propecia then there are several Propecia precautions you should be aware of. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have liver disease, liver failure, food allergies, dye allergies, preservative allergies, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Propecia precautions should also include telling your doctor about any medications you are currently taking including both prescription and non-prescription medications. In addition, you should tell them any vitamins and herbal supplements you are taking.

The drug can be absorbed through the skin. If the film coating of the tablet has been broken or the tablet crushed, it should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or plans to become pregnant. Any contact with finasteride by a developing male fetus could result in abnormalities of the external sex organs. Propecia should not be used in women or children.

You should be aware that Propecia has been labeled a pregnancy Category X medication by the FDA. This means that the drug can be dangerous if you take it during a pregnancy. You shouldn't take Propecia if you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant.

These women also should not come in contact with broken or crushed Propecia tables. Since it is unknown whether or not the drug is passed in the breast milk you should ask a healthcare provider before using Propecia if you are nursing.

Propecia must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. It is not known if finasteride is excreted into breast milk. However, this drug is not indicated for use in women.

Additional Propecia precautions should be taken for individuals who have liver problems including any form of liver failure such as hepatic failure . Before taking Propecia these individuals should talk with their healthcare provider since Propecia could build up in the system of these individuals.

Propecia precautions also dictate those who shouldn't take this drug. If you are allergic to Propecia, Finasteride or any inactive component of these medications then you should ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for alternative treatments. To be sure you have no allergies you should request a list of all inactive ingredients in the drug from your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Recognizing Propecia Side Effects

There are Propecia side effects just like you would have with any other drug. Although Propecia side effects won't be experienced by everyone taking this drug. Rather many individuals are found to tolerate this drug very well . Most Propecia side effects are minor and do not require separate treatment or can be easily treated by a healthcare provider.

Common Side Effects

Through clinical trials Propecia has been thoroughly studied and inspected with evaluations being done with many people. All side effects occurring in the groups of people are documented and compared to those of individuals who don't take the medicine. The three most common side effects found in these cases is a decreased libido in 1.8 percent of the people, erectile dysfunction in 1.3 percent of the people and decreased ejaculate amount in 1.2 percent of the people.

Although rare there are some Propecia side effects you should be aware of and report to your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of them. Very few patients taking this drug have had these side effects which means under one percent . It is even difficult to determine if these side effects are actually caused by Propecia or another condition. The Propecia side effects include an allergic reaction such as skin rash, itching, hives, unexplained swelling, wheezing or difficulty breathing or swallowing . You should also look for breast tenderness, breast enlargement or testicular pain .

Individuals may experience some or none of the Propecia side effects. If you have never tried this drug there is no way for a healthcare provider to know whether of not you will have side effects. Rather you should notify your doctors anytime something doesn't seem right while taking Propecia. Even if it isn't a Propecia side effect your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat any additional problem.

Propecia Side Effects For Pregnant Women

There are Propecia side effects that are really serious especially for pregnant women . The Propecia side effects that affects pregnant women concerns birth defects in the baby especially if the unborn child is a boy. If a pregnant woman comes in contact with the drug Finasteride in any form, either Proscar or Propecia or any other name, she runs the risk of inflicting birth defects in her unborn child .

This is because Finasteride acts to inhibit certain enzymes and it is this function that affects the unborn child. Contact with Finasteride through skin contact can be the culprit. Anybody who uses Finasteride must be careful to dispose of the drug foil or packaging and not leave any residue lying around. Some people taking Propecia must be careful in inflicting Propecia side effects on an unborn male child.

Propecia Side Effects For Men

Other Propecia side effects concern the person taking the medication. Although only ninety eight percent of the men taking the drug has shown no Propecia side effects, there is still the very small percentage tat has visibly shown some side effects. The Propecia side effects that have affected males taking it are a decrease in libido, impotence, decreased amount and volume of ejaculate and a very small percentage of the two percent who had Propecia side effects report they experienced breast enlargement of tenderness .

Although these Propecia side effects can be reversed by just ceasing to take the hair loss cure drug, the side effects are still alarming to most men. It can also be depressing since satopping ingesting the drug will also mean that your hair will not regrow anymore. You might have to choose another drug to motivate hair regrowth.

Propecia side effects in men may not seem as serious as the side effects it has on pregnant women and their unborn male child. In spite off this respite, the two percent of who are affected by the side effects will still have to be careful regarding the use of such drugs.

Propecia Storage

Store at room temperature away from sunlight and moisture.