 Hair loss or baldness is generally a hereditary condition caused by an excess of hormones called androgens. Some medications or medical conditions can also cause hair loss. Propecia (a brand name for finasteride) is a prescription medication approved for the treatment of male-pattern hair loss. The recommended dose of Propecia is 1mg once daily with or without meals. In general, daily use for three months or more is needed before a change in hair loss is obvious. It may take up to six months before hair regrows. Propecia does not work for everyone. In medical research studies, it stopped hair loss and caused some regrowth in about 60 percent of men who used it for 12 months. If no effect is seen by 12 months, the drug will probably not work for you. To maintain regrown hair, you must continue to use Propecia. If you stop treatment, your hair will return to its pre-treatment growth pattern within 12 months. Side effects with Propecia are rare, but may include decreased sex drive, impotence, and decreased volume of ejaculate. Children or women should not use Propecia. Women who are pregnant or those who may become pregnant should not take or handle this drug because there is a risk of birth defects in male babies. Sources:
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2007.
Propecia product information, Merck & Co. Inc., 2007.
Price, V. "Drug Therapy: Treatment of Hair Loss," New England Journal of Medicine. 341(1999).
Sawaya, Marty E. “Androgenetic alopecia. New approved and unapproved treatments.” Dermatologic Clinics 18 (2000).
Diseases and Conditions, “Hair loss.” http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 1/11/2007.
This answer prepared 3/16/2001.
This information updated 1/11/2007
| 
view shopping bag
