Propecia As A Hair Loss Treatment
Finasteride is a popular treatment option you should consider if yo0u’re suffering hair loss. The anti-androgen is also marketed as Propecia, Finpecia, Finast, Prosteride, Finara, Fincar and Proscar. Because Propecia is the most common version, we will use that term to refer to the anti-androgen throughout the article.
Propecia works by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase – the enzyme which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. The drug was called Proscar when it was first approved in 1992, and it was mainly used to treat enlarged prostates. However, a study conducted using 1mg of Finasteride revealed hair regrowth in men who suffered from hair loss. This prompted the FDA to approve Finasteride as a treatment for mail pattern hair loss in 1997.
Merck & Co. manufactures the drug as Propecia, in which only 1 milligram of Finasteride is present. Merck’s patent for Propecia expired in June of 2006 which enables the FDA to approve a generic form of the drug available in 5 mg tablets.
Generally, Finasteride is only used to treat men because Propecia doesn’t affect hair loss in females. The Finasteride present in Propecia may also lead to birth defects in unborn babies which has caused the FDA to place it in Pregnancy Category X. The tablets are considered safe for pregnant women and their unborn children as long as the drug isn’t swallowed. However, women should avoid any form of the pill, particularly if they are broken or crushed. Finasteride has also been banned by many professional sports since it can mask the use of steroids.
Although Propecia has a 29-68 percent success rate, it is only effective as long as you continue treatment. Once you stop therapy, you will lose the hair you gained within a 6-12 month period. Propecia has proven to work effectively along the hairline and in the crown area.