General
Description & Use
Finasteride
marketed as Propecia (1mg), Proscar
(5mg), Fincar,
Finpecia, Finax, Finast, Finara, Finalo, Prosteride, Gefina, Finasterid
IVAX, Finasterid and Alternova is an antiandrogen which acts by
inhibiting type II 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts
testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is used as a treatment
in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in low doses, and prostate
cancer in higher doses. Used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy
(BPH). BPH commonly occurs in men over 55 years of age and causes
the prostate gland to enlarge. Also used for hair loss.
PROPECIA
is the only once-a-day pill approved by the FDA for the treatment
of certain types of male pattern hair loss in men. PROPECIA reduces
DHT, a key cause of hair loss. Clinical studies of PROPECIA demonstrated
visible results.
Some
Facts
In a 5-year clinical study demonstrated the effectiveness of PROPECIA.
9 of 10 men who took PROPECIA had visible results—either regrowth
of hair (48% [134 of 279]) or no further hair loss (42% [117 of
279])—vs 25% [4 of 16] who took a placebo (sugar pill), according
to an assessment of photographs by an independent panel of dermatologists.
2 of 3 men who took PROPECIA regrew hair, as measured by hair
count. All of the men in the study who were not taking PROPECIA
lost hair. A majority of men who took PROPECIA were rated as improved
by doctors—77% (210 of 271) vs 15% (2 of 13) of men who took a
placebo. A majority of men who took PROPECIA reported that their
bald spot got smaller, their hair loss slowed down, and the appearance
of their hair improved.
Is PROPECIA right for you?
Are you tired of covering up your ever-expanding bald spot? Would
you like to have the potential to keep the hair you have and possibly
regrow some hair you’ve lost? Are you looking for a treatment
that has the convenience of a once-a-day pill? Are you willing
to stay with PROPECIA for a year? If you answered yes to any of
these questions, then PROPECIA may be the right choice for you.
For best results, take PROPECIA every day for 12 months.
Results
You may need to take PROPECIA daily for 3 months or more before
you see a benefit from taking PROPECIA. If PROPECIA has not worked
for you within 12 months, further treatment is unlikely to be
of benefit. PROPECIA can only work over the long term if you continue
taking it. If you stop taking PROPECIA, you will likely lose any
hair you have gained within 12 months of stopping treatment. PROPECIA
was developed to treat mild to moderate male pattern hair loss
on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area (middle
front of head) in MEN ONLY. There is not sufficient evidence that
PROPECIA works for receding hairlines at the temples. PROPECIA
is for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in MEN ONLY and
should NOT be used by women or children. Talk to your doctor today
about PROPECIA. Your doctor knows which treatments could work
and can determine what might work for you. The sooner you begin
treatment, the more hair you may have in the months and years
ahead. See the timeline for results.
Important Information About PROPECIA
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. In clinical studies for PROPECIA, a
small number of men experienced certain sexual side effects, such
as less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection, or
a decrease in the amount of semen. Each of these side effects
occurred in less than 2% of men and went away in men who stopped
taking PROPECIA because of them. Although results will vary, generally
you will not be able to grow back all the hair you have lost.
