| On December 22, 1997, the FDA finally approved | | | | more hair regrowth with the finasteride treatment |
| Propecia for treating hair loss in male candidates. | | | | versus the sugar pill. Side effects were infrequent (it |
| Does it work and is it safe? | | | | was not stated exactly what infrequent meant) and |
| On December 22, 1997, the FDA finally approved | | | | were related to sexual function. |
| Propecia for treating hair loss in male candidates. This | | | | That's fantastic! So infrequently, does that mean that |
| approval made Propecia the first FDA approved | | | | I will attract more of the opposite sex and then not |
| treatment for male hair loss that comes in pill form. | | | | be able to do anything with that? I'm just saying! |
| The basics of Propecia are as follows: | | | | Propecia has not and will not be marketed for |
| The active ingredient that is causing the hair | | | | women because it causes birth defects, and the |
| regrowth in Propecia is finasteride. Finasteride was | | | | safety and amounts needed have not been |
| first approved and used in 1992 as Proscar. Proscar is | | | | established in women. |
| a treatment used for prostate enlargement. Proscar | | | | But its o.k. apparently for us men because we are |
| helps suppress the formation of DHT which is the | | | | disposable and don't give birth. Any time I see a |
| hormone thought to cause the increase in size. By | | | | chemical that is not advised for women because it |
| treating an enlarged prostate with Proscar, the need | | | | can cause birth defects, I just have to feel that male |
| for surgery was reduced. | | | | or not, there is something going on that shouldn't be. |
| There is 1 mg of finasteride in Propecia (for the | | | | The FDA's Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs |
| purpose of hair growth) and 5 mg in Proscar (for | | | | Advisory Committee sat down and had a chat about |
| treating prostrate enlargement). While treating | | | | Propecia. The committee offered labeling suggestions |
| patients for prostate enlargement, it was noticed | | | | in the context of an overall generally favorable |
| that their was some regrowth of hair in areas of | | | | discussion. Merck & Co. of West Point, Pa., produces |
| male pattern hair loss. | | | | both Proscar and Propecia. |
| Being a little tongue in cheek. Its no comfort to know | | | | We all know Merck & Co. track record with lawsuits. |
| that the side effects of one treatment become the | | | | Vioxx and the osteoporosis drug Fosamax are the |
| basis of treatment in another. | | | | first that come to mind. Almost seems to make |
| In further studies, 1 mg of finasteride and | | | | about as much sense as trusting Exxon to handle |
| demonstrated hair growth in male pattern hair loss. | | | | your neighborhood environmental project. |
| The number of hairs (I'm not sure if it was 4 or 6 | | | | Make sure that when you start seeking treatments |
| hairs, just kidding) increased in the anterior midscalp | | | | for hairloss and male pattern baldness that you weigh |
| and vertex. | | | | the pro's of hair regrowth with the possible health |
| Patient feed back showed that there was in fact | | | | concern cons. |