Finasteride can be prescribed to treat two different conditions in men – one of them is hair loss

About Propecia - its manufacturer

Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed for the treatment of male pattern baldness, medically known as androgenetic alopecia. Dev eloped by Merck & Co., Inc., Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which decreases the amount of DHT in the body. Since DHT is important for male pattern baldness, using Finasteride to decrease DHT levels can help stop hair loss and re-grow hair.

Finasteride is a competitive and specific inhibitor of Type II 5a-reductase, an intracellular enzyme that converts the androgen testosterone into DHT. Two distinct isozymes are found in mice, rats, monkeys, and humans: Type I and II. Each of these isozymes is differentially expressed in tissues as well as in developmental stages. In humans, Type I 5a-reductase is predominant in the sebaceous glands of most regions of skin, including scalp, and liver. Type I 5a-reductase is responsible for approximately one-third of circulating DHT. The Type II 5a-reductase isozyme is primarily found in prostate, seminal vesicles, epididymides, and hair follicles as well as liver, and is responsible for two-thirds of circulating DHT.

Propecia for hair re-growth

While Propecia is not a cure for hair loss, it is effective in stopping hair loss and re-growing hair on the top and front of the head. This treatment for hair loss and hair re-growth has shown great results. The success rate of Propecia is 90% and many men worldwide take Propecia to stop their hair loss and hair re-growth. It is not a magic pill but a medication, which was originally developed for prostate cancer. However, a rare side effect of this medication was growth in visible hair and hence a low dosage form of Finasteride (active ingredient of Propecia) was set under trials for hair loss.

This medication was easily approved for hair loss as there are not many side effects and it has a high success rate. But, one point to note is that the stopping of Propecia can result in losing any hair that has been re-grown. The drug needs to be taken indefinitely to maintain the hair growth and density

Who can buy and can’t buy Propecia

Propecia Finasteride can be taken by almost all men above 18 years of age as it is safe for almost everyone. People who can take Propecia are:

• Those who witness abnormal hair fall
• Those who suffer from male pattern hair loss
• Those who suffer from prostrate cancer

However, men who want a child or are planning to have one should avoid Finasteride. It is always better to consult a doctor and find out if Propecia is a safe hair loss drug for you or not. Women in particular and men with certain medical ailments are not advised to take the Propecia hair loss drug. You cannot take Propecia if you have diseases like:

• Kidney disease or infection
• Liver disease
• An unusual or allergic reaction to Finasteride, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

Propecia Finasteride is for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in men only and women or children should not take it. In fact, pregnant women should not even handle crushed or broken Propecia tablets.

In addition, people on certain drugs must not take Propecia as it is known to interact with drugs like:

• Some blood pressure medications
• Male hormones (example: testosterone)
• Saw palmetto
• Soy isoflavones supplements

Online availability of Propecia

Propecia is easily available online and this has given the power to the internet surfers to choose a genuine online pharmacy of their choice. In order to buy Propecia, all you need to do is simply place an order with any online pharmacy after filling in your correct personal details in a questionnaire. After which you will be provided a free consultation by an online licensed doctor. Once he has established your credentials, you will promptly get a prescription after which your Propecia tablets will be dispatched to your address. All this will be done without your having to as much as step out of your house. Cheap and convenient, you have to beware of fraudulent online pharmacies who might sell generic non-approved drugs that could pose a danger to your health. Your safety is of prime importance.

Side effects of Propecia

Clinical trials produced the following statistics for Propecia side effects:

• Decrease in sexual desire: 1.8%
• Problems with erection: 1.3%
• Decrease in semen volume ejaculated: 1.2%

To put these figures into perspective, when monitoring Propecia side effects, 3.8% experienced some kind of sexual dysfunction while 2.1% of the men using a placebo pill also experienced the same problems.

Additionally, these side effects were reversible in the men who discontinued taking Propecia and within some weeks the side effects disappeared completely.

As Propecia affects hormone levels some men experienced tenderness in the breast. However, this was a small number and no more than those who used the placebo.

While the figures given above may not seem significant and in view of the fact that the Propecia side effects are reversible if the drug is discontinued it may appear that there is little cause for concern.