Finasteride, sold under the brand names Proscar and Propecia among others, is a medication used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male pattern baldness. It is a type II and type III 5α-reductase inhibitor; 5α-reductase, an enzyme, converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

Finasteride side effects

Adverse effects from finasteride are rare. Compared with placebo, men taking finasteride are at increased risk for impotence, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and ejaculation disorder for the first year of treatment. The rates of these effects becomes indistinguishable from placebo after 2–4 years and these side effects usually get better over time. The FDA has added a warning to 5α-reductase inhibitors concerning an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer, as the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia lowers prostate-specific antigen, which could mask the development of prostate cancer. Although overall incidence of male breast cancer in clinical trials for finasteride 5mg was not increased, there are post-marketing reports of breast cancer in association with its use. Available evidence does not provide clarity as to whether there is a causative relationship between finasteride and these cancers.

A 2015 meta analysis found that none of the clinical trials testing finasteride in hair loss had adequate safety reporting and did not provide sufficient information to establish the safety profile for finasteride as a treatment for hair loss. The study concluded the existing clinical trials of finasteride for hair loss provide very limited information on toxicity,are of poor quality, and seem to be systematically biased toward under detection of adverse events. Moreover, the trials submitted to the FDA for approval for hair loss excluded most men who would normally be prescribed finasteride for androgenic alopecia.

Propecia effectiveness

In fact, Propecia (Finasteride) is an effective drug that affects most forms of baldness in men of all ages. On the other hand, it has no effect on alopecia areata, as well as alopecia caused by a lack of vitamins or other beneficial substances in the body of the patient.

Numerous clinical experiments have shown that Propecia works quickly and effectively. It is excreted from the body in a matter of hours. Excellent results of drug exposure are confirmed by numerous positive responses from those who have already had time to try this drug. In just a few months Propecia and generic Propecia with an active ingredient finasteride help completely normalize the natural process of hair growth.

After regular intake for six to seven months overgrown hair of medium length appears. But if the drug fails to lead to any real results after a year, better stop taking it. Perhaps, due to the individual characteristics of the body treatment doesn’t seem to be effective.