Propecia 1mg

What is Propecia (Finasteride) 1mg used for​​​?

Propecia contains the active ingredient Finasteride. Finasteride is approved to treat male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia).

In the scalp, finasteride lowers the levels of a male hormone (dihydrotestosterone), which is a major cause of male pattern hair loss. In this way, finasteride helps to slow the balding process, preventing further hair loss, and leading to increased hair growth in some patients.

The improvement rate varies from person to person; it usually occurs after the medication has been used for at least 3 months and lasts only as long as the medication continues to be used. Hair loss will begin again within 3 to 6 months after stopping the medication.

This medication is also used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

How effective is Finasteride for hair loss?

A study involving 1879 men has shown that Finasteride 1mg/day promotes hair growth and prevents further hair loss in a significant proportion of men with male pattern hair loss.

In men with vertex hair loss, global photographs showed improvement in hair growth in 48% of Finasteride recipients at 1 year and in 66% at 2 years compared with 7% of placebo recipients at each time point.

Furthermore, hair counts in these men showed that 83% of Finasteride versus 28% of placebo recipients had no further hair loss compared with baseline after 2 years.

Over the long term, Finasteride works well as a treatment for hair loss. A 10-year study found that more than 99% of men who take Finasteride 1mg/day experience no further progression of their hair loss over the long term.

However, results from Finasteride typically aren’t immediate. It usually takes 3 to 4 months before any results are visible, with the “final” results from Finasteride visible after about one year of consistent use.

During the first 3 to 4 months of treatment, some may also develop a slight increase in hair loss - this is a phenomenon known as Finasteride shedding. If you start to experience hair shedding after you start using Finasteride either on its own or with Minoxidil, it’s important to stay the course as this is a temporary phenomenon. After 3 to 4 months, you should begin to notice real improvements in your hair density and general hair growth.

Dosage and How to Use​

• This medication may be taken with or without food.
• If you experience stomach upset, take the medication with food.
• Do not take more than once a day.
• This medication should not be touched or handled by pregnant women or women who are of childbearing age as the active ingredient of the medication (finasteride) can be absorbed through the skin. If contact with the tablet occurs, wash the area immediately with soap and water thoroughly as the medication may harm the development of the fetus.

What to do if I missed a dose?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of Propecia (Finasteride)?

Common side effects include:

• Unable to get or sustain an erection
• Decreased libido (sex drive); less desire to have sex
• Difficulty with ejaculation

These side effects may be temporary and reversible. If they are persistent and become bothersome, please discuss it with your doctor.

Finasteride use in males planning to have children:

• Finasteride may reduce the amount of sperm and the ability of sperms to move
• For a man and his partner who have difficulty in having children, please consult your doctor for further assessments​

What precautions should I take?

• Use a condom during sexual intercourse to avoid exposing your partner to the medication. This is because the medication can be found in semen. This is to protect your partner if your partner is or may be pregnant, as the medication may affect the normal development of the baby’s sex organs.
• Avoid donating blood during treatment or for 1 month after you stopped the treatment as there may be a risk that your blood may be given to a pregnant female transfusion recipient.

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients in this medication.
• You have heart, liver, prostate or urological diseases.
• You are going for a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. Finasteride may decrease the level of PSA, which is a prostate-specific tumour marker, in the blood.
• You have abnormally low mood or have depression.

What other medications and foods should I avoid when taking Propecia (Finasteride)?

Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking or intend to take any other medication, supplements, traditional medications, or herbal remedies.

Handling and storage

• Keep away from children.
• Keep in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
• Keep this medication away from children, pregnant women and women who are of childbearing age.
• To dispose this medication safely, pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

The above information answers some common questions about this medicine. It does not contain all the available information. It also does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

References

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medications/469/Finasteride-for-hair-loss

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9951956/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337105943_Long-term_10-year_efficacy_of_finasteride_in_523_Japanese_men_with_androgenetic_alopecia