Finasteride is probably the next major development in hair loss treatment since Rogain / minoxidil. Finasteride is the generic name for the name brand drug Proscar® (5 mg finasteride) or Propecia™ (1 mg finasteride) manufactured by Merck & Co.
Proscar is an oral medication that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement. Incidently, research has shown that the drug can also slow down hair loss and in some cases result in hair growth. To minimize the side effects that come with Proscar (5mg finasteride), Merck & Co. conducted clinical testing on 1 mg finasteride as a treatment for hair loss. Merck's clinical testings on 1 mg finasteride have been concluded effective in treating hair loss and in December 1997, the FDA approved the drug - Propecia (1 mg finasteride) as the first ever anti-baldness pill in the world.
Finasteride is an 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Reducing 5-alpha reductase in our body can reduce the formation of DHT, which is the main culprit for hair loss. DHT is a derivative of male hormone and it is creaated when 5-alpha reductase interacts with the male hormone testosterone. DHT is probably ten times more potent than testosterone. Hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT tend to fall when exposed to the hormone. This is the case for most people who are suffering from male pattern baldness.
Prior to the introduction of Propecia, many people are using 5 mg finasteride at their own risks to treat hair loss. Finasteride comes in the form of a 5 mg tablet, marketed as Proscar. 5mg finasteride is designed for people with benign prostate enlargement, not for hair loss.
Women are cautioned AGAINST taking finasteride as the drug may cause birth defects. Also, finasteride comes with side effects - in the clinical studies conducted for Propecia, about 2% of the male participants who took the drug reported loss of sex drive or impotence.
Research has shown that taking finasteride orally in conjunction with applying minoxidil/retinoid topically to the scalp can achieve very promising results in some people - see article "Improvement in Androgenetic Alopecia (Stage V) using topical minoxidil in a retinoid vehicle and oral finasteride".
In US, a 30 day supply of Proscar (5 mg finasteride) or Propecia (1 mg finasteride) costs about US $60.
Availability:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HairSite.com
1997-2007 © |
email:
hairsite@aol.com |
||||
