Finasteride

Finasteride prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. DHT is a strong male sex hormone, which is formed on the scalp as testosterone reacts with the type II 5-alpha reductase enzyme. The hormone which results from this reaction gets into the hair follicles, damaging and shrinking them and ultimately preventing visible hair from growing. Finasteride helps by inhibiting this process and decreasing DHT in the scalp and blood stream of the patient, resulting into a reversal of the hair loss process.

The recommended dosage for Finasteride is one daily dose of 1 milligram to be taken orally. Finasteride can be taken with or without meals. Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water.

Before taking Finasteride, tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this medication, or to a similar medicine called Dutasteride (Avodart). Also tell your doctor if you have:

• A liver disease, or abnormal liver enzyme tests
• Prostate cancer
• A bladder muscle disorder
• Stricture of your urethra
• Difficulty urinating

Finasteride should never be taken by a woman or a child. This medicine can be absorbed through the skin, and women or children should not be permitted to handle the tablets. Finasteride can cause birth defects if a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy, so it should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. If a woman accidentally comes into contact with this medication from a broken or crushed tablet, she should wash the area with soap and water right away.

You can expect visible results in 3 months from the time the treatment was started. Effects may vary from a slowing down to a prevention of hair loss. In 6 to 12 months, it is possible for hair to start growing again and in 5 years, the patient may have a head full of hair. However, all effects are dependent on how the individual reacts to the treatment.

Finasteride is the only once-a-day pill for the treatment of male pattern hair loss that has been approved by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration). Finasteride is also one of only two types of hair loss medication in general that has been FDA-approved. It is therefore considered to be very safe and effective.