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Hair Loss Drug Side Effects

Before starting to take the hair loss drug Finasteride (also known by brand names Propecia and Finpecia) you owe it to yourself to do your homework on the potential implications for your health.

Drugs should never been consumed without doing your own due diligence. The recent drug related deaths of Michael Jackson and Heath Ledger have made more people aware of the dangers of prescription drug use.

To assess the risks associated with taking Finasteride, including Finasteride side effects you should first examine the clinical trial results:

Phase III Trials: The FDA (Federal Drug Agency) assesses the safety of drugs through several separate obligatory phases of clinical trials that all pharmaceutical companies must go through before they are allowed to market a drug. The results of the third of these trials, for a longer duration and with a larger volume of people, is your first stop because it has the most information. Google “phase III trial results propecia” to find this information.
Phase IV Trials: Some drugs are put through a fourth phase of trials by the pharmaceutical companies. This is not obligatory, but the companies do this to gather more evidence to use in their marketing of the drugs. Merck put Propecia (its brand name for Finasteride) through a 5 year clinical phase IV trial with the results published in 2001. This is one of the longest clinical trials undergone in the market. Google “5 year trial results propecia” to find this information.

When reviewing these trial results take careful note of the incidence of side effects that people experience and what these are. These range from testicular pain to decrease in sexual desire, to problems with erection and decrease in semen volume ejaculated.

You have at this stage reviewed all of the professional trial safety evidence on Finasteride. However, you must not stop there, as there is other, less well controlled information out there that you should take into consideration. The Phase III and Phase IV trials provide you with short term evidence on the drug’s safety.

However they don’t provide you with long term evidence on its safety. Many men have now taken the drug for 10 years or more. This length of time is beyond the controls, and drugs can have longer term implications for your health that are not revealed in the short term.

To assess the longer term risks you should search out evidence from:

Forums of ex-finasteride users: There are a number of forums where groups of men who used the Finasteride previously discuss their situations and opinions. It should be noted that information from these sources is completely uncontrolled.Nonetheless there is a growing volume of posts on forums about medical issues that ex users are starting to link to use of Finasteride. Google “Finasteride side effects forum” to find this information.
TV documentary on post-finasteride effects: A documentary was broadcast in Sweden in late 2009 on the permanent effects of Finasteride. Google “swedish documentary finasteride” for more information.

To date there is little long term quality information that you can use to judge the drugs safety. There are no longer term clinical trials underway so there is not likely to be a well controlled source of longer term safety available any time soon.

The growth of ex users who are not content with the drug and their interactions with the medical community will take some time to come to any conclusion as a result. Whether to prove that finasteride side effects can become permanent, or that it is safe or dangerous.

Baldness Will Soon Be a Thing of the Past As Propecia Goes Online

Millions of men who suffer from premature baldness or hair loss would in the near future be able to cure baldness efficiently as the most effective remedy for hair loss now goes online.

Yes. Propecia, an FDA approved hair loss pill is now available online in the UK.

Balding men who are embarrassed to ask their doctor for help can now buy the only prescription hair loss drug via the internet in UK. In order to this, they have to just follow a few easy steps in order to buy Propecia pills online. Propecia being a prescription medication, it can be dispensed only after a proper prescription has been got from an approved doctor, either online or offline. Routine prescription can be got only after an online consultation has taken place.

Propecia has proven to be effective in 9 out of 10 cases. Apart from preventing hair loss, in a few cases, Propecia has helped in follicular rejuvenation that has aided hair re-grow. A significant medical breakthrough, Propecia is known to stop and reverse hair loss in males. It is used world over for its efficacy in turning around androgenetic alopecia in males.

In these difficult economic times, people are looking to cut costs wherever possible. As the medical costs are escalating, most people prefer to buy medicines online. Therefore, the online pharmacies and clinics have taken the onus on to themselves for providing online consultation from registered doctors free of cost. In fact a few online clinics or pharmacies also deliver the medication at your door step at no extra charge.

Chances of Fake Propecia:

In these tough economic times, finding discount Propecia online or even free Propecia offers can save significant amount of money but sometimes this can prove to be hazardous. As chances of getting fake Propecia pills online exist, it is essential that you buy Propecia from a recommended and approved online source. Fake Propecia pills might bring on unwarranted side effects.

Apart from the some of the known online clinics in UK like propeciaonline, other clinics like euroclinix are also providing online services covering almost all the European countries.

So, most Propecia users can now turn to actively looking for genuine Propecia pills on the above mentioned websites to be able to gain maximum benefits.

How to Use Propecia:

Propecia is available as a 1 mg pill which is the highest or the lowest starting dose. Generally one propecia pill a day should be taken with a full glass of plain water. Skipping the Propecia dosage is not advisable as this may reduce its effectiveness.

Do not try to overdose on Propecia if you have skipped one or more dosages as this may be detrimental to your health. If you have any doubt you can always consult an online doctor from the pharmacy that sold you the Propecia pills.

Keep in mind that the Propecia pills must not be broken, crushed or chewed. You should also remember that Propecia is only meant for males over the age of 18 years. Women and children should be prevented from taking or handling this pill.

Why Is Propecia an Effective Pill for Male Pattern Hair Loss?

Most men with premature hair loss are genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia – a condition that is commonly known as male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness occurs because of the effects of testosterone-the primary male sex hormone- on your hair follicles. This hormone is present in high amounts in your body after puberty, and is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) because of the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. DHT works on he hormone receptors present in your hair follicles and slows the production of scalp hair. This results into hair which is shorter and weaker than normal, and sometimes your hair will stop growing completely. This gradual process will eventually results into total or partial baldness.

Stages of male patten hair loss

The onset of androgenetic alopecia usually begins at the end of puberty and is usually determined by your genetic inheritance. Most men start experiencing hair loss during their late 20s or early 30s. Hair loss initially occurs as a receding hairline and gradually progresses to thinning hair at the top of the head. Finally both areas will converge to form a U shape around the sides and back of the head. The remaining hair, if any, becomes finer in texture and the growth rate slows down. Moderate hair loss that occurs due to hormonal causes affects most men by age 50. This hormonal condition can be hereditary in nature.

What is Propecia?

Propecia (active ingredient finasteride) is a popular prescription pill used in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. This clinically tested medication has been proven to prevent further hair loss and to promote hair growth in about 80% cases. Propecia is quite suitable for long term treatment in most cases of androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride, the active ingredient present in Propecia, helps in the reduction of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the scalps of genetically predisposed men.

How does Propecia work?

As testosterone is converted to DHT because of the action of 5-alpha reductase, finasteride blocks the action of this enzyme and lowers DHT levels in the scalp. This reduces the negative effect of DHT on the hair follicles and prevents or even reverses hair loss. Finasteride has been reported to reduce DHT levels by about 60%. Treatment with Propecia must be continued for about 3-6 months for optimum benefits.

Possible side effects of Propecia

Like other drugs, Propecia too can produce side effects your body, which might include sexual problems such as temporary impotence and low libido. But most of these side effects are temporary in nature and usually disappear without treatment. Pregnant women, in particular, need to avoid any kind of contact with finasteride, as it is known to cause birth defects in an the male fetus. It is advisable to follow your doctor’s instructions while taking this hair loss medication. Propecia has been specifically formulated to treat the symptoms of pattern baldness in men. It cannot be taken by women with female pattern baldness, nor can it be prescribed for men who experience hair loss because of cancer or chemotherapy.

Finpecia – What is it and What Does it Do?

Here’s a bit of information about the drug Finpecia that may be of interest to you. This is especially true if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 41, though men of all ages can benefit from Finpecia. But what, exactly, is Finpecia?

Finpecia is a generic form of finasteride, the dht inhibiting medicine most commonly known as Propecia, which is primarily used to treat, and even reverse, male pattern baldness. Finasteride is the only oral medication which is FDA approved to stop a man’s hair loss and regrow fresh hair.

As a medication, finasteride has been known to come with a few potential side effects, mostly sexual in nature (low libido, weakened performance, etc.), but on rare occasion, reports of breathing challenges have been documented.

Finpecia Hair Loss Treatment is produced in India by a company called Cipla, and contains the exact same 1% finasteride formula as Propecia, but with a much smaller price tag. Many individuals with poor medical coverage – or none at all – go with this “generic” formulation due to its affordability vs. Propecia.

Finasteride in general works by inhibiting an enzyme in the bloodstream (5-alpha reductase) from converting garden variety testosterone into the dreaded dihydrotestosterone (dht), thereby freeing up the hair follicles to receive proper nutrition from the blood. A build-up of dht is the primary cause of all male pattern baldness. Finasteride works by significantly reducing its quantity within the body.

Finpecia, along with all finasteride products, is not approved for use by females. Though female pattern baldness is an extremely valid concern among women all over the world, with over 40% of the hair loss sufferers in North America being ladies, finasteride is simply not designed for a woman’s specific biochemistry.

Women are encouraged to use minoxidil and low level laser therapy, in addition to consuming plenty of biotin and magnesium.

For men who really want to grow their hair back, but who are not willing to face the risks of sexual side effects, a natural alternative to finasteride is available. And while saw palmetto is not quite as powerful, countless men from all walks of life have sworn by its effectiveness. So if you don’t think “fin” is right for you, perhaps saw palmetto is worth looking into.

Do Propecia And Finasteride Work For Hair Regrowth?

On December 22, 1997, the FDA finally approved Propecia for treating hair loss in male candidates. This approval made Propecia the first FDA approved treatment for male hair loss that comes in pill form. The basics of Propecia are as follows:

The active ingredient that is causing the hair regrowth in Propecia is finasteride Canada. Finasteride was first approved and used in 1992 as Proscar. Proscar is a treatment used for prostate enlargement. Proscar helps suppress the formation of DHT which is the hormone thought to cause the increase in size. By treating an enlarged prostate with Proscar, the need for surgery was reduced.

There is 1 mg of finasteride in Propecia (for the purpose of hair growth) and 5 mg in Proscar online pharmacy (for treating prostrate enlargement). While treating patients for prostate enlargement, it was noticed that their was some regrowth of hair in areas of male pattern hair loss.

Being a little tongue in cheek. Its no comfort to know that the side effects of one treatment become the basis of treatment in another.

In further studies, 1 mg of finasteride and demonstrated hair growth in male pattern hair loss. The number of hairs (I’m not sure if it was 4 or 6 hairs, just kidding) increased in the anterior midscalp and vertex.

Patient feed back showed that there was in fact more hair regrowth with the finasteride treatment versus the sugar pill. Side effects were infrequent (it was not stated exactly what infrequent meant) and were related to sexual function.

That’s fantastic! So infrequently, does that mean that I will attract more of the opposite sex and then not be able to do anything with that? I’m just saying!

Propecia has not and will not be marketed for women because it causes birth defects, and the safety and amounts needed have not been established in women.

But its o.k. apparently for us men because we are disposable and don’t give birth. Any time I see a chemical that is not advised for women because it can cause birth defects, I just have to feel that male or not, there is something going on that shouldn’t be.

The FDA’s Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee sat down and had a chat about Propecia. The committee offered labeling suggestions in the context of an overall generally favorable discussion. Merck & Co. of West Point, Pa., produces both Proscar and Generic Propecia.

We all know Merck & Co. track record with lawsuits. Vioxx and the osteoporosis drug Fosamax are the first that come to mind. Almost seems to make about as much sense as trusting Exxon to handle your neighborhood environmental project.

Make sure that when you start seeking treatments for hairloss and male pattern baldness that you weigh the pro’s of hair regrowth with the possible health concern cons.

The Drug Propecia and Hair Loss

The drug propecia is a prescription hair loss medication designed mainly for men with mild to moderate hair loss. The effects of hair loss and propecia were studied in several clinical trials, and propecia was found to be better than a placebo.

The men in the studies, aged between 18 and 41, took propecia daily for a year. Some men took a placebo. Of the men who took the propecia, 86% either did not suffer further hair loss, or actually increased the amount of hair in the affected areas. Only 14% of men had continued hair loss.

The drug propecia has been found to be ineffective for women. This, combined with the potential danger of abnormalities to a male fetus, means that propecia is not prescribed for female pattern hair loss. Propecia has not been studied in older men, or men with complete baldness, and it has not been proved to work with a receding hairline. Propecia is not suitable for children, no doubt due to its negative effect on developing male genitals.

Generally, propecia is a very safe drug for hair loss. Most men taking it did not have any side effects, though some reported:

* erection difficulties

* reduced amount of semen

* less sexual desire

These were not permanent changes, and when those affected stopped taking propecia, their symptoms disappeared. Some men who reported these side effects were also able to continue taking propecia without the side effects continuing. The report I saw did not say whether the side effects just stopped, or if other treatment was undertaken to counteract them.

The drug propecia has only been studied on men for up to two years, and these men had no problems taking it for this period. However, based on research over a period of 32 years on men who are deficient on the enzyme that propecia suppresses, 5-alpha reductase, the mechanism by which propecia works seems to be quite safe for long term use.

Disadvantages of Taking Propecia

Propecia is not a cure for hair loss. Propecia works by interrupting the conversion process of testosterone to its metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT for short). It does this by effecting the enzyme catalyst, 5-alpha reductase, that is involved in the conversion process. In male pattern hair loss, there is an excess of DHT in the part of the scalp where hair loss occurs. So, by reducing the amounts of DHT in the scalp, propecia effectively works to prevent new hair loss, and allows hair to regrow. However, to continue the benefits of propecia, you’ll need to take it for the rest of your life. Once you stop taking propecia, the DHT levels will rise again in the scalp, and hair loss will return to pre-propecia levels.

The Drug Propecia and Pregnancy

Women should be very careful not to handle propecia if they are pregnant, as it can affect the development of the sex organs in a male fetus. So, it would be wise not to touch any open packets, or broken tablets. If you must, use a glove. Unbroken tablets are safety coated, so the active ingredient of propecia, which is the potential problem, is not present on the outside of the tablet.

For men taking propecia, if your wife is pregnant, there is no risk to her unless she is exposed to the active ingredient from a broken tablet. She, or the baby, won’t be harmed when her partner is taking it.

However, given that in some men propecia affects the amount of semen produced, if you are trying to conceive this may pose a problem. This side effect does not affect all, or most, men. But check with your doctor if you think this may be a concern.

Propecia Reviews

Let’s discuss Propecia Reviews as per age group. Let’s begin with the age group of 20 to 30 years of age. This age group is a young group of people and it is very sad to know that such young people also face hair loss. This is the time when their hair should be of the best quality and no medicines should be required.

However the reviews of people using propecia say that they have been taking the pill of 1mg once daily from a period of 4 weeks to 2 years respectively and the results are astounding. People say that they had problems of receding hair line, hair loss and balding on the back of the head in such an early age but the medicine has worked in bringing back the lost hair in the patches where it had become thin and hair texture and thickness has increased too.

When we talk of the age group between 30 and 40 years of age people have to say that they too have been taking the pill of 1 mg each once daily and after duration of 11 months, 3 years and 1 year respectively have experienced great results. People say that the hair which had reduced in the crown area re-grew and any kind of male pattern baldness reduced as well. Many also say that even though the hair they had lost in abundance did not grow much, they did not loose any further hair.

It also cured hair thinning in many people and brought back the lost shine in their hair. Most of the people who are using this medicine are male and have reported of some side effects as well. They said they were lacking interest in their sex life after taking these pills. They also faced erection problems. Many people say they did not have any side effects at all.

For the age group of 40 and above the pill has worked wonders as well. Male patients of 40 years and above have been taking this pill and have reported that their hair never fell and they still look young with the shining thick hair on their head. Many female patients are using it after their 40 years of age and have said that their hair grew 50 percent more and all the lost hair had come back. The side effects continued to be related to sexual health and women who do not intend to have children can use it.

How does this drug work is what will explain all the questions people have in mind. The sex hormone testosterone in male body combines with another enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. When a reaction happens between these two substances a more active hormone called DHT is formed. When a person starts to loose hair the follicles on his head start forming DHT receptor sites and the DHT formed in the body starts getting attached to these sites formed in the follicles.

The DHT starts showing its colors here and treats the follicle like an unwanted thing. This will start affecting the hair as the follicle gets week day by day and will shrink in size and capacity to produce a healthy hair. This is the result of hair loss. Now what does Propecia do in this case? It will enter the person’s blood and stop the increase in DHT. The production is not completely stopped but drastically reduced. When this starts the effects of the DHT on the hair follicles will stop and hence hair loss will stop. Now this could also be the answer for the decrease in libido and erection and loss of interest in sex. The DHT is responsible for an active sex life and if that reduces then this is bound to happen.

When you have to start using Propecia for your constant and drastic hair fall, it is advisable you consult a doctor and get a prescription for it. You must also read the various Propecia reviews which are published on the Internet and get to know how your body will react to the medication. Some other things to make note of are that a consistency needs to be maintained in taking the pill as if you take it in irregular intervals it will not show the desired results.

It takes around 3 months for the pill to show its effects on your hair and do not loose patience in just a few weeks. Another thing to note is that after taking the medicine for a month may be you may loose a lot of hair. Do not be scared and stop taking the medicine. This is a sign of the pill doing its work on you. People who made Propecia also recommend that you use a shampoo called Nizoral along with the pill as it will keep you scalp dandruff free, inflammation free and healthy. With the help of this shampoo the pill will work best and will show results of good hair growth and thickening of hair even in old age.


April 2011
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