Hair Loss and Propecia

Let’s talk a bit about Propecia, the newest “wonder drug” for fighting hair loss. Propecia, which is a trademark or brand name for the drug “finasteride”, is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of male-pattern baldness. In some studies, Propecia stopped hair loss and caused some hair to re-grow in up to 48 percent of men with hair loss at the top of the head or at the back and middle part of the scalp when treated for 12 months. At 24 months, 66 percent of men reported improvement. Not bad actually, compared to other drugs and treatments used in the past.

However, you may need to use Propecia daily for three months or longer before you see an obvious change in hair loss.. It may take up to six months before hair grows back. If you’re using the drug and see no effects within 12 months, the drug will probably not work for you. So it’s not a cure all and it doesn’t work for everyone. And there can be side effects.

Side effects of Propecia can include: decreased sex drive, impotence, breast tenderness or enlargement (I mean you, guys). Other side effects or reactions may occur, so see your doctor if you experience anything unusual while taking the drug. Apparently, continued use of Propecia can often resolve these side effects as the body compensates for the drug’s presence in the body. Maybe.

Is Propecia right for you? That’s for you and your doctor to decide. There’s no way, except by actually using the drug for several months, to know if it will have any effect on your hair loss. And in the meantime, you’ve spent X amount of dollars on a treatment that may not work. However, Propecia is becoming cheaper all the time (just do a search and see how many online stores are selling it…prices are good as the competition heats up).

So there you are…a bit about Propecia. It’s not a cure-all or wonder drug, unless it works for you, and then it’s a miracle! If you are interested, see your doctor and find out if you are a good candidate to try it out. Next time, we’ll talk about some home-grown hair loss remedies (pun intended!) that may help slow down hair loss…or may not. Stay tuned and take care!