Introduction To Propecia
Propecia®, manufactured by Merck, has been available since 1998. It is estimated that more than 34 million American men have male-pattern hair loss, which is medically referred to as adrogenetic alopecia. This type of hair loss is very common. It usually begins in men in their early 20's, and worsens as men get older.
Obtaining Propecia And The Cost Of Medication	At substantial savings!
Propecia is prescription product. Following an initial, one-time office evaluation, you can authorize Dr. Kaplan to mail you an additional 90-day supply of Propecia every three months at a cost which is considerably less than that charged by almost all pharmacies. This can be charged automatically to your credit card, thereby saving you both time and money, and can be discontinued at any time.
How It Works
Propecia blocks the enzyme which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This enzyme is called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR). Testosterone is responsible for all the positive changes that occur as men age, such as increased muscle mass, deepening of the voice, increased sexual drive, etc. Dihydrotestosterone is responsible for the undesireable changes, such as enlargement of the prostate and male pattern baldness.
What prompted the discovery of Propecia was the deficiency in the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that was found in a group of men in the Dominican Republic. These men never experienced male pattern baldness or enlargment of their prostate glands. In 1991, Merck Pharmaceuticals developed Finasteride 5 mg (trade named Proscar), which blocks 5-alpha reductase, thereby preventing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. In 1998, Merck came out with Finasteride 1 mg (trade named Propecia) for the treatment of male pattern hair loss.
Clinical Study Results
All side effects are extremely uncommon. Men are obviously concerned about the possiblity of Propecia causing a decreased sex drive. Studies have shown this side effect to be less than 2%. Men taking Propecia experience the same rate of side effects as men taking a placebo sugar pill. This suggests that there is actually very little, if any, risk of side effects from Propecia. In addition, the men who reported a decreased sex drive noted that their sex drive returned to normal even if they continued to take Propecia. Stopping the medication makes all side effects disappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Propecia grow hair on other parts of the body?    No. Propecia blocks the enzyme, 5-AR, that makes scalp hair fall out. This enzyme does not make other body hair fall out. Censequently, blocking this enzyme will only stop scalp hair from falling out, and start to regrow. Can Propecia be combined with other hair loss treatments, such as Rogaine (Minoxidil)?    Yes. There are no known drug interactions to Propecia. There are studies that suggest taking both Rogaine® and Propecia works better than either one alone. Many men combine Propecia once per day with Rogaine 5% twice per day. Even men who have had hair transplants will benefit from Propecia. Will Propecia grow hair for women?    There have not been any large scale clinical studies done for women using Propecia. The maker of Propecia did a small study in post-menapausal women. It did not show Propecia to significantly help women grow hair. Furthermore, Propecia should never be taken by women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, because of the possibility of birth defects. Women can use Rogaine safely. Can a man taking Propecia safely get a woman pregnant?    Yes, there is no danger if a man takes Propecia and his partner becomes pregnant. Propecia has no effect on sperm count or sperm motility, nor is there any risk of causing birth defects. (Besides, with more hair, the hope is that you will get more sex.) What about the birth defects they talk about on television?    There is a concern if a woman is taking Propecia and becomes pregnant with a male fetus. It is and is perfectly safe for a man to stay on Propecia while trying to conceive a child. Does Propecia really work?    Yes, many men maintain their hair and 66% actually regrow significant hair. In hair count studies, 83% of men maintain or grew hair. What happens if I stop taking Propecia?    Gradually you will lose what you have gained. For example, if you take Propecia for one year, about one year later you will be back to where you start a year previous. In other words, you should take Propecia, at least until you get married. Hopefully, after that, your wife will still love you, even if you become bald. What if I have other questions?    Feel free to call Dr. Kaplan at (310)858-7880 to set up an appointment.

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