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A: Propecia is the first pill that effectively treats male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and the front mid-scalp area.
A: In two 24-month vertex studies of men aged 18 to 41 with mild to moderate hair loss, the clinical results of Propecia were impressive. A panel of independent dermatologists reported that:
83% of the men taking Propecia maintained their hair based on hair count (vs. 28% with placebo, a pill with no medication), 66% had visible regrowth (vs. 7% with placebo), 80% were rated as improved (vs. 47% with placebo), and most men reported an increase in the amount of hair, a decrease in hair loss, and improvement in appearance.
You may need to take Propecia daily for at least 3 months or more to see visible results. Propecia may not regrow all your hair. And if you stop using this product, you will gradually lose the hair you have gained. There is not sufficient evidence that Propecia works for receding hair loss at the temples, just at the crown and forehead. If you haven't seen results after 12 months of using Propecia, further treatment is unlikely to be of benefit.
A: Propecia is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in men only. Women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use or even touch Propecia because the active ingredient may cause birth defects. Propecia was studied in men aged 18 to 41 with mild to moderate amounts of hair loss. Most of them either stopped losing their hair and/or grew new hair. A small number of men taking Propecia experience minor sexual side effects. Propecia can affect a blood test called PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) for the screening of prostate cancer so if you have a PSA test done, you should tell your doctor that you are taking Propecia.
A: The causes of hair loss are not well defined; however, researchers have found that men with male pattern hair loss have increased levels of DHT in the balding area of their scalps. Increased levels of DHT are believed to contribute to the shortening of the growth phase and a shortening of the time it takes for the hair to fall out. This results in thinning of the hair on the scalp.
Finasteride (the active ingredient in Propecia) blocks the formation of DHT, lowering levels of DHT in the scalp and helping prevent further hair loss.
A: DHT is one of many male hormones in the body. DHT is developmentally important early in a man's life; however, it appears to be a cause of hair loss as a man gets older. DHT shrinks the hair follicle until it no longer produces visible hair.
A: Propecia is proven to maintain hair count in most men. In clinical studies, hair count was maintained in men taking Propecia, while men taking a placebo continued to show progressive hair loss.
A: At 24 months, 66% of the men studied regrew hair at the top of the head (vs. 7% with placebo) as determined by an expert panel of dermatologists. They also said 80% of the men on Propecia had improved (vs. 47% with placebo). This was not just ?peach fuzz,? but real hair?and growth occurred in both the vertex (top of the head) and front mid-scalp area. There is not sufficient evidence that Propecia works for receding hair loss at the temples.
A: Propecia begins to block the formation of DHT almost immediately; however, because hair grows slowly, visible results from Propecia take some time. In clinical trials, most men began to see the first benefit of Propecia?slowing hair loss?as early as 3 months. After 6 months, men may begin to experience regrowth. If Propecia does not work within 12 months, further treatment is unlikely to be of benefit.
A: Take Propecia only as prescribed, and always follow your doctor's instructions. Propecia won't work any faster or better if you take more than one tablet a day.
A: You need to take Propecia for as long as you want to continue to benefit from it. If you stop taking Propecia, you will likely lose any hair you have gained within 12 months of stopping treatment.
A: The longest study of Propecia lasted five years. The independent panel of dermatologists found that 9 out of 10 of the study subjects using Propecia showed visible results... a full 90% had improvement in their hair or no visible hair loss after the five years.
A: Propecia may cause side effects but in clinical studies, side effects were uncommon and did not affect most men. A very small number of men experienced certain sexual side effects, such as less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection, and a decrease in the amount of semen. Each of these side effects occurred in less than 2% of men on Propecia. The side effects were reversible and went away in men who stopped taking Propecia.
A: Propecia is for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in MEN ONLY. Further, women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use Propecia and should not handle crushed or broken tablets of Propecia because the active ingredient may cause abnormalities of a male baby's sex organs. Propecia tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling.
A: Propecia is the only pill indicated for male pattern hair loss. Merck has not conducted clinical trials comparing Propecia with other medicines. You should discuss with your doctor which hair loss product is best for you.
A: Propecia comes as a 1-mg tablet taken orally each day. This tablet is tan in color and is octagonal (has 8 sides). Each coated Propecia tablet is marked with a ?stylized P? logo on one side and "Propecia" on the other. Propecia tablets come in individual bottles of 30 tablets and in a PROPAK®, a carton of 3 bottles, each containing 30 tablets for a total of 90 Propecia tablets.
