Finasteride is an androgen hormone inhibitor used to
treat hair loss. In 1997, the FDA approved the first pill to treat male pattern hair loss. Propecia - finasteride - is a tablet
taken once a day, available by doctor's prescription only.
The chemical name of Propecia is known as Finasteride. When a new drug is developed, the pharmaceutical company will give its
drug a brand name and a chemical name. Propecia is the brand name, while
finasteride is the chemical name.
Propecia® 1 mg made by Merck and
Generic Propecia 1 mg have exactly the same ingredient, 1 mg of finasteride.
Finasteride is a remedy for baldness in men with mild to moderate hair
loss on the top of the head and the front of the mid-scalp area. It
increases hair growth, improves hair regrowth, and slows down hair loss.
It works only on scalp hair and does not affect hair on other parts of
the body.
You may begin to see improvement as early as 3 months after you begin
taking finasteride, but for many men it takes longer. The improvement
lasts only as long as you take the drug; if you stop, new hair growth
will cease and hair loss will resume.
Propecia is a low-dose form of Proscar, a drug prescribed for prostate
enlargement.
SIDE EFFECTS: Unlikely to occur but the possible side effects
include impotence, decreased sex drive or decrease in amount of
ejaculate. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your
doctor or pharmacist. |
