Propecia is a prescription medication for male pattern baldness. Propecia is categorized as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor medication. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase helps to convert the male hormone testosterone to its active form dihydrotestosterone or DHT. An excess of DHT is responsible for baldness in men.
Propecia contains the active ingredient Finasteride. Finasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, thus stimulating hair growth. This medication has helped arrest and in some cases even reverse mild to moderate male pattern baldness. Propecia begins to show visible results only after 3 months of regular consumption. The effectiveness of the treatment varies from person to person.
Propecia successfully prevents male pattern baldness by inhibiting the 5 alpha-reductase enzymes from converting testosterone into its active form – dihydrotestosterone (DHT). An excess of DHT in the male scalp can shrink the hair follicles and stop them from producing new hair.
The main ingredient in Propecia is Finasteride which helps prevent excessive production of DHT. A 1mg dose of Finasteride is sufficient to reduce the DHT levels in your scalp to 60% or less. Reducing DHT levels to 60% or less helps stop the progression of hair loss. This helps in arresting hair loss and promoting the growth of new hair.
Propecia is a prescription medication for treating hereditary male pattern baldness in men aged 18 or above. The medicine should not be consumed by women as Propecia is not effective in treating female pattern baldness. Propecia is especially harmful to unborn babies and pregnant women. Propecia should not be taken, in case –
The main benefit of Propecia is that it puts a stop to the progression of male pattern baldness. In a few cases, Propecia has also helped in increasing hair growth.
In a five year study, it was proven that Propecia or Finasteride is effective in stopping the progression of male pattern baldness in 9 out of 10 men.
In this study, 48% of men showed hair growth and 42% showed no further hair loss. Propecia results do not affect the hair growth in other parts of your body, it only affects your scalp.
Very few men (1.5%) experienced side effects on taking Propecia. This is not much more significant than the risk of side effects in any other medicine. Some Propecia side effects include –
Propecia is a prescription medication and should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Usually, in the case of male pattern baldness doctors recommend a daily dose of 1mg with or without food. Do not take more than one tablet per day. It is not necessary to take Propecia at the same time every day.
You can order Propecia online from MedsNow. After an online consultation with a doctor, your order will be sent to your doorstep. As this is a prescription medicine, doctor consultation is required.
Just like any other approved drug, Propecia has undergone clinical trials before being approved for a prescription. It is safe to use but it is known to cause side effects in rare cases.
Propecia is unsafe for children and women. Propecia can cause severe problems for unborn children and should be kept away from pregnant women.
Propecia poses the following risks –
Finasteride | Propecia | Regaine | |
Effectiveness | Shown to prevent baldness or help regrow hair in 9/10 men | Shown to prevent baldness or help regrow hair in 9/10 men | Shown to prevent baldness or help regrow hair in 8/10 men |
Time to Work | Usually at least 3 months | Usually at least 3 months | As soon as two months |
How To Use | Take ONE tablet daily | Take ONE tablet daily | Apply to the scalp twice daily |
Ingredient | Finasteride 1mg | Finasteride 1mg | Minoxidil 5% |
Yes. In 48% of cases, men have experienced a boost in hair growth when taking Propecia. But this is not true for all men who have prescribed this medicine.
Yes. Propecia is a prescription drug and should only be taken after consulting a doctor.
Propecia inhibits the 5-alpha redactor enzyme from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone which is the active form of the male hormone. In some cases, this inhibition may cause erectile dysfunction.
You could consult your doctor for Propecia hair loss treatment to get a prescription. You can also take online consultation from our doctors at MedsNow to get the prescription.
You need to take Propecia regularly for at least 3 months until you can see a visible difference in your hair loss.
You should take Propecia as per the dosage prescribed by your doctor. Usually, the recommended dosage is one 1mg tablet per day.
Finasteride is the generic form of Propecia and both are essentially the same medicine.
Weight gain with Propecia is not common and there is no medical evidence to show that the medicine has caused weight gain for the patient.
No significant difference between the effects of Propecia and Regaine has been noted. Both Propecia and Regaine slow down hair loss and balding, in some cases both medications stimulate minor hair growth and both medications are ineffective in advanced stages of balding.
Men above the age of 45 may benefit from Propecia, but this is not medically proven. The medical license for PropeciaUK relies on studies conducted on men between the ages of 18 to 41 only.
In rare cases, Propecia is known to cause side effects related to impotence and fertility issues. Such as erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, and ejaculation disorders.
Effects of Propecia wear off within 9-12 months of stopping the treatment. Hair loss will begin again with the same intensity as it was before you began the treatment.
Finasteride is the active component of Propecia and is also the name of the generic version of Propecia.
Propecia helps to stop the progression of hair loss in men. In some cases, it is even helpful in regrowing lost hair. Studies have revealed that Propecia is most helpful in arresting and reversing hair loss over the top of the scalp.
No, women should never use Propecia. The medication is ineffective in treating hair thinning in women and is dangerous for women of childbearing age to handle.
Propecia has an expiry date of 36 months from the date of manufacture. Always remember to check the expiration date on the package when you buy medicine.
Yes, Propecia can be used with Regaine. The combination of Propecia and Regaine has shown positive results, often better than when Propecia is used alone.
Propecia should only be taken as prescribed by your doctor. Do not increase the dosage on your own, if the hair loss medication doesn’t seem to work – consult your doctor once again.