What is male pattern baldness ?

Male pattern baldness is a common condition in men that results in a receding hairline and/or balding on the top of the head.

What does Propecia do for a man with male pattern baldness?

Propecia works in two ways: (1) to prevent any further hair loss, thus maintaining current scalp hairs, and (2) to increase the number of scalp hairs.

How effective is Propecia?

Studies have shown Propecia to be about 80% effective in preventing future hair loss and about 40% to 50% effective in restoring hair growth already lost.

How long should I take Propecia to determine how effective it will be for me?

Twelve months is the best indicator. Hair grows slowly ½ inch a month. Thus, it will take some time before you can determine how well Propecia is working for you. If you see no results after only one month of use, that does not mean Propecia is not going to work for you. How your hair is responding to Propecia after 12 months of continual use is the best indicator of how it will continue to respond. If after 12 months you are having good results, you should continue to get good results. If you have had little or no improvement after 12 months, you will probably continue to notice little or only minimal results and should consider not taking Propecia anymore.

What is the recommended daily dosage of Propecia?

The recommended dosage for Propecia is 1 mg a day.

I want faster hair growth. What will happen if I take more than 1 mg a day?

The maximum effective dosage of Propecia is 1 mg a day. Taking more than 1 mg a day does not make the drug work any faster. You will get the same effect no matter if you take 1 mg a day or more. This is true even if you missed taking your dosage one day. So if you miss taking a pill one day, you will get no better results taking 2 mg the next day compared to taking your regular 1 mg dosage. Taking more than 1 mg a day for any reason will not bring you any additional benefits and is a waste of money.

What are the side effects of Propecia for men?

The side effects are: a decrease in the ability to achieve an erection, a decrease in the desire for sex, and a decrease in the production of sperm.

Are the side effects very common?

Fortunately, most men experience absolutely no side effects from Propecia. The side effects that have been reported have occurred in less than 2% of men. These side effects disappeared in men who stopped taking the Propecia and even went away in most men who continued to take Propecia.

How does Propecia effect tests for possible prostate problems in men?

As men get older, they should be screened periodically for prostate cancer. One of the ways this is done is by a blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. Men taking Propecia may have their PSA level in their blood lowered by 50%. Thus, the doctor must be told if you are taking Propecia so that he or she may adjust the results of your PSA test accordingly.

May males below 18 years of age take Propecia?

No. Propecia works on adult men only.

May women take Propecia?

No. Propecia works on adult men only.

What happens when a pregnant female handles an intact, unbroken Propecia pill?

Nothing. Propecia, like many other medicines, is coated with a covering that prevents the medicine inside the pill from coming in contact with anyone handling the pill. An unbroken pill is perfectly safe to be handled by anyone. Do not handle a broken or chipped tablet.