Do Propecia And Finasteride Work For Hair Regrowth?


Fitness:

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. 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 (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 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.

Is Your Hair Loss Preventing You From Doing The Things You Want? Find Out How to Have Healthy Hair - At Any Age! Click Here For Free Details: Hair loss help newsletter


Hot Topics In Fitness

    How To Shop For Treadmills - Save Your Money

    When you have a home treadmill you can still manage to have a very effective workout regardless of how the weather is doing outside. The home treadmill was one of the first pieces of home fitness equi...

    Simple Dermatology Answers To Cystic Acne

    Being exposed to the ravages of acne at some point in life is common, cystic acne appears to be for the most part genetic. If you had a nurturer with cystic acne you may experience a higher risk as we...

    Will and Mind Control

    Control of the mind is a very interesting inner game. If you have a sportsman attitude you will thoroughly enjoy it, even apparently if it seems that you are losing. It takes a great deal of skill, al...

    Top Foods For Bigger Muscle Gain

    What do you do to get a hard lean body Not hours and hours in the gym that will help you a bit but the main thing is what you are pouring into your stomach. You may want to get some ideas on healthy ...

    How Do I Find Discount Gym Equipment?

    A great way to get that new gym you've been looking for is to find home gyms at yard sales. This opportunity is a great one that is often overlooked. Yet it's quite simple to find home gyms at yard sa...

    How Protein Build Muscles | When To Take Protein?

    If you want to build muscles, you must eat protein. Without the amino acids protein provides, your muscles won't grow no matter how you train them. Protein is your muscle's building block and there ar...

    How To Build Muscle Mass Quick Without Supplements

    So maybe you do not want to take supplements to build up your muscles well that is just fine many people prefer not to take supplements for many reasons, so the question is how do you build muscle mas...

    What You Must Know Before You Buy Any Treadmill

    If you are yet to invest in a serious piece of indoor exercise fitness equipment like a treadmill then never fear because help is at hand. Shopping for a treadmill can be very overwhelming for a lot o...

    3 Simple Free Workout Routines To Get Ripped Abs Without Even Doing 100 Abdominal Exercises

    We all have the potential to create a ripped midsection but until the layer of fat covering your gut is reduced your abs simply won't be visible.

    So how do you get rid of this layer of fat to expose...

    Fitness Tips - Easy Way To Lose FatLose Weight

    There are many things we can do every day to help us lose unwanted body fat and help us slim down or maintain our weight naturally. These actions and actitivities which will help us gradually but stea...

    Selecting the Best Sports, Fitness and Social Health Club

    Joining a Fitness and Health Club is a great way of maintaining active lifestyle, spending your leisure time having pure fun and the best way to expand your social network. It is very important to kno...

    How not to gain holiday weight so you have no need to lose weight

    Holiday season is just round the corner. There will be parties, celebrations, food and champagne. Ahhhh....that irresistible succulent Christmas turkey and sumptious pudding. That mouth watering new y...

Most Recent Fitness Supplements

Interesting Today:

Most Recent Fitness Blogs:

Releated to Fitness:

Fitness Links:

Fitness Fitness Rss feeds.