Finasteride: Side Effects and Advantages for the Treatment of Hair Loss

Finasteride is a drug sold under the brand name propecia. It prevents conversion of testosterone to DHT( a male hormone ) in the body.  It is used for the treatment of hair loss. Male –pattern hair loss is a problem faced by a lot of men. It effects hair loss from the top and the front scalp first. We can see receding hair line in men over the time.

CAUSES:

The effect of male hormone (DHT) on the hair follicles causes male-pattern baldness. It is present in the front, top and crown of the scalp. This hormone shrink the hair follicles both in diameter and length. These effected follicles then produce small hair and unpigmented hair unlike the normal pigmented hair. The hormone affects the growth phase of the susceptible follicle. Due to these two effects, the hair become shorter and shorter and then disappears.

WORKING:

It decreases the male hormone DHT in both scalp and blood vessels. It blocks an enzyme that convert testosterone to DHT. It increases testosterone in blood and supports the hair growth.

DOSAGE:

It available in form of a tablet of 1 mg .Take it with or without food.  Physician advice to take 1 tablet of 1 mg one time in a day and at the same time every day. It is important to continue the dosage for at least 3 months to see effective results. One can face reversal effects on stopping to consume the tablet within 12 months.

ADVANTAGES OF FINASTERIDE:

1. Use to treat male-pattern baldness.
2. Use of this can reduce the need for surgery in case of enlarged prostate.
3. Improve symptoms of BPH.
4. Benefits in decrease urge to urinate.
5. Helps to reduce night time urination.

DRAWBACKS:-

1. Women can’t use this for baldness
2.  can affect the PSA blood test due to decrease PSA level in blood
3. It can interact with other drug,
4. Women shouldn’t handle even the broken tablet in pregnancy,
5. It increase the risk of prostate cancer after the age of 55
6. Precaution is necessary in patients with liver function problem,
7. Propecia is not meant for children,
8. Stopping to consume tablet will reverse the baldness 

SIDE EFFECTS OF FINASTERIDE:

1. Decreased volume of ejaculation
2. Sexual adverse experiences
3. Weakning
4. Dizziness
5. Abnormal ejaculation
6. Swelling or tenderness in the breast
7. Skin rashes
8. Swelling in hands and feet
9. Trouble having orgasm
10. Headache

Don’t ignore side effects like breast jumps, pain, nipple discharge, or other breast changes. This may sign of male breast cancer. Some others side effect is pain in testicles and unable to urinate. The side effects may continue till 12 months if you stop taking tablet.

FDA has approved this medicine in 1 mg /day in the brand name of propecia. It is used for the treatment of male-pattern baldness .The results are excellent in case of baldness. But it is necessary to continue the medicine for at least five years. 90% of people (male) taking finasteride experience either growth of new hair or stop the hair loss. One can see a significant improvement in front region of scalp.