Bald may be beautiful, but many men do not like to watch their hairline shrink and disappear. Although there are many treatments available, Propecia is the first once-a-day pill that decreases hair loss in men. Propecia inhibits the formation of DHA, a chemical in your body that is associated with hair loss and hair follicle shrinkage. Although easy to use, Propecia requires a prescription and has significant side effects.
Mechanism of Action
Propecia inhibits the formation of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. According to Merck, the company that manufactures Propecia, DHT shrinks hair follicles, causing a decrease in the number of visible hairs. Propecia's generic equivalent is finasteride, blocks an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, helps convert testosterone to DHT. It is which is found in elevated levels in men experiencing male pattern hair loss or MPHL. By blocking the action of the enzyme, the formation of DHT is reduced, and the amount of hair follicle shrinkage is also reduced. The result is less hair loss and more growth of visible hair.
Effectiveness
Propecia works very specifically. The 1-mg tablet of finasteride works only on male-pattern baldness---loss of hair on the top and middle front area of the scalp. It does not appear to work on receding hairlines at the temples. As reported in MediLexicon, clinical trials showed that 83% of Propecia-taking patients with male pattern baldness kept the amount of hair they already had, or had grown more visible or thicker hair, after one year of treatment.
Treatment Expectations
The effectiveness of Propecia can only be seen after it has been taken consistently for extended periods of time. According to both Merck and Finasteride.com, Propecia is only effective as long as treatment is continued on a daily basis. Once you stop taking the pills, any hair growth gained will likely be lost within a year.
In addition, according to Merck, it make take up to three months of daily treatment before any benefits are noted, and if no benefits are noted after 12 months of daily treatment, then treatment is likely not going to work at all.
Because Propecia works by increasing hair already present, in general, you will not be able to grow back hair you have lost.
Side Effects
Clinical studies reported by Merck and Finasteride.com, as well as MediLeixco, indicate that approximately two percent of men taking Propecia experience side effects. These include a decreased desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection and a decreased amount of semen. These side effects go away once men stop taking Propecia.
Other, more serious, but less common side effects include changes in the breasts such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge; an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, hives and swelling of the lips and face; and testicular pain. Any of these should be immediately reported to your doctor.
Propecia and Women
Propecia is not for use in women. According to Merck and MediLexicon, the FDA has rated Propecia as a pregnancy category X, known to cause birth defects.
Women who are or who may become pregnant are cautioned against handling crushed or broken finasteride tablets, as Propecia is absorbed through the skin and will cause birth defects in a developing male baby. While exposure to whole tablets should be avoided, it is not expected to be harmful as long as the tablets are not swallowed.
It does appear that finasteride can pass into the semen of men. Thus, oral sex with a partner taking the drug should be avoided by a woman who is pregnant or may become pregnant as well as by breastfeeding women as it is unknown whether or not finasteride can pass into breast milk.
Sports Ban
Interestingly, according to Finasteride.com, due to its chemistry, finasteride can mask steroid abuse. Therefore, certain professional sports have banned finasteride use among their athletes.
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