How Serious Propecia? – Propecia Side Effects

PropeciaPropecia is the name of the drug Finasteride prescribed in 1mg doses to combat hair loss in men. Propecia side effects include some forms of sexual dysfunction which may alarm some users.

Just what is the evidence and are there any statistics to help us evaluate the risks involved with the side effects of Propecia?

The effects of Propecia and the side effects were noted on 1,553 males who took Propecia over a 2 year period.

Clinical trials produced the following statistics for Propecia side effects:

* Decrease in sexual desire: 1.8%
* Problems with erection: 1.3%
* Decrease in semen volume ejaculated: 1.2%

To put these figures into perspective, when monitoring Propecia’s side effects, 3.8% experienced some kind of sexual dysfunction while 2.1% of the men using a placebo also experienced the same problems.

Additionally, these side effects were reversible in the men who discontinued taking Propecia and within some weeks they had disappeared.

One point to note is that the stopping of Propecia can result in losing any hair that has been regrown. The drug needs to be taken indefinitely to maintain the hair growth and density.

However, if a user discontinued taking the drug after experiencing the Propecia side effects noted above, it is very unlikely he would experience any decrease in hair growth. This is because it takes between three to six months of daily use to see any increase in hair growth and the side effects are experienced well before then.

As Propecia effects hormone levels some men experienced tenderness in the breast. However, this was a small number and no more than those who used the placebo.

Another aspect of Propecia side effects has to do with the detection of prostate cancer. The drug Finasteride which is contained in the Propecia tablets was originally marketed to combat prostate cancer in men over 50. It was prescribed in 5 mg doses.

Finasteride can affect a man’s PSA levels (prostate specific antigen) which is often used as a screening test for prostate cancer. The use of Propecia may therefore affect the detection of prostate cancer. It has yet to be confirmed whether prolonged use of Propecia can actually reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

While the figures given above may not seem significant and in view of the fact these Propecia side effects are reversible if the drug is discontinued it may appear that there is little cause for concern.

However, another aspect should be noted. Even though a drug may receive FDA approval after rigorous tests and many years of clinical trials and reports, FDA approval does not mean the long term effects of a drug are known.

This perhaps is the most worrying aspect about Propecia’s side effects. The fact that young men often take this drug for male pattern baldness and maintaining their level of hair growth is dependent on taking the drug, it means that a man will be using this medication perhaps for decades.

Prescription Propecia – 7 Precautions

Prescription Propecia - 7 PrecautionsThese are The Precautions before you order Prescription Propecia:

1. Propecia is for men only, and 1 tablet has to be taken orally each day. Be prepared to take it for many years as the hair you gain through the use of this drug can be lost once the medication is discontinued. Hence, calculate the expense and determine whether you are prepared for this financial outlay.

2. Although over 80% of the men in clinical trials experienced positive results in keeping their hair and seeing new growth, a small number, around 3%, experienced some form of sexual dysfunction. These side effects disappeared shortly after the drug was discontinued.

3. Prescription Propecia is specifically to help hair growth in the mid-scalp and crown area. There is no evidence to prove it is effective with a receding hairline or for hair loss on the temples.

4. The long term effects of taking prescription Propecia are unknown. If a man starts taking this drug in his twenties and has to continue to avoid hair loss, by the time he is in his fifties he will have been on the drug for 30 years. As Propecia has only been on the market since 1998 it is not possible to determine what effects this could have in the long term.

5. A personal consultation with your medical practitioner is recommended before taking any drug. Ordering from an online pharmacy may or may not be safe. A questionnaire has to be filled out before the online pharmacy can fill the order. Be sure you research the web site and look for symbols or links indicating the pharmacy is licensed and registered with a government agency.

6. Check that the web site you wish to order from has medical professionals acting as consultants and be prepared to ask questions directly to these professionals and evaluate the response, both for speed and professionalism.

7. Remember that individuals react differently to drugs and medications. Prescription Propecia may work well for some men and not for others. Be prepared to wait patiently for at least 2-3 months before drawing a conclusion at to whether Propecia is working for you or not. If you do not see a difference in your hair density after this time then consider stopping the medication.

While FDA approval certainly gives Prescription Propecia legitimacy, some search for alternatives in view of the unknown long term side effects and cost of continued usage.

NewHair Biofactors is one such alternative. It is a natural herbal solutions, non-prescription, and much cheaper than prescription Propecia.

Although not FDA approved, it has been on the market since 1993 and it it has helped thousands of men and women stop hair loss and increase the density of their hair growth, while maintaining a healthy scalp.

Clinical studies reported in the Medical Post of 1993 reported an 85.7% success rate in the 148 participants in the study. Check the resource box for details.

Prescription Propecia may just be the answer you are looking for to combat hair loss. On the other hand, if the precautions listed above make you cautious, it is encouraging to note there is an alternative which also has a high success rate.

Do Propecia Really Works ?

July 13, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Health and Fitness 

When a person is losing their hair they will try almost anything to stop it from happening. They will put their faith in almost any product or procedure that comes down the pike, hoping against hope that this one is really going to work for them. In the battle against hair loss, Propecia is one product that seems to have risen to the top, at least in terms of publicity. When you read the vast amount of press that this product has received many people say that it has been responsible for hair growing back on their heads. However, an enormous amount of publicity does not necessarily mean that a hair loss product actually works.

Although thousands upon thousands of people afflicted with alopecia have put their trust in hundreds of different products and spent millions of dollars, most of this time, effort and money has been spent in vain. Sadly, very few of these people have ever had any hair grow back on their heads. Even sadder is the fact that there is no shortage of people and companies out there that will market so called miracle cures for baldness, preying upon people who are desperate to get their hair back.

If there is one product out there that people afflicted with balding conditions seem to be embracing it would have to be Propecia, or finasteride as the scientists who developed it in Merck laboratories call it. It is an FDA approved pill that men can take daily by mouth. In fact it is the first and only FDA approved pill approved for the treatment of baldness, and it has shown positive results for balding conditions on the vertex and anterior sections of the head, otherwise know as the top and middle front areas of the head. There is no solid evidence that it works for men with receding hairlines at the temples.

An independent panel performed a five year study on men aged 18 to 41 who took Propecia and the results were quite impressive. They studied photographic evidence and determined that most of the men who participated in the study began to see positive results 3 to 12 months after starting Propecia. These results ranged from a lot of hair growing back to a small amount of hair returning to their head. Subjects that did not see positive results after 12 months did not see positive results at all by the end of the study. However, this was an uncommon result as 9 out of 10 men involved in this study saw some degree of hair re-growth.

Although Propecia has received rave reviews, there are some downsides. One of the biggest ones is the fact that it can only be used by men. Although baldness strikes mostly adult males there are thousands of women and even children around the world who suffer from various hair loss conditions. They cannot take Propecia. Another downside is that some men experience certain sexual side effects. The most common of these side effects are a decrease in the desire to have sex, problems with erections and a decrease in semen amounts. These side affects occurred with less than 2% of the men studied and they disappeared once the men stopped taking the pills. This brings us to another downside, which is the fact that any positive results achieved with hair re-growth will be lost if you stop taking the pills. That means that if you want to keep the hair that grows back on your head you have to take the pills for the rest of your life. Most men would agree that it is a small price to pay to get their hair back.

Propecia is available by prescription only. If you decide that you want to start taking it you can visit your doctor and they will set you up. A lot of online pharmacies now offer U.S. licensed physicians that can give you an evaluation and write you a prescription over the phone or over the internet. Although there are some shady online pharmacy web sites there are many more that are reputable U.S. licensed pharmacies that sell FDA approved drugs. You just need to do a little research to find the good ones.

While there are many products and services out there that are claiming to be the latest cure for baldness it is important to keep in mind that most of them do not work. However, Propecia is not one of them. It is the only FDA approved pill for the treatment of hair loss. This is because an independent five year study has proven that 9 out 10 men show some re-growth of hair 3 to 12 months after starting Propecia. Some showed a little bit of success in re-growing their hair and some showed a lot of success. A very small percentage experienced sexual side effects. When you think about it, taking a pill every day is a small price to pay for getting hair to grow back on your head.

Laser Hair Loss Treatment Is Effective ?

July 12, 2010 by admin · 1 Comment
Filed under: Health and Fitness 

Hair growth has a cycle of approximately three years. During this period, you may experience unusual hair loss, but it is not a problem, because it is part of the cycle. Nonetheless, some people reported that they noticed excessive hair fall. Studies showed that stress, certain medicines and creams can contribute to hair fall. There are a lot of solutions to help you stop your hair from falling. Surgeries and natural oils are the most traditional methods. Many researches gave scientists a better insight on this subject. That’s how the laser hair loss treatments were introduced to the public as a new healing method.

Laser hair loss treatments are available almost everywhere. You have the choice of having this therapy either in a clinic or privately. Therapies processed at home require certain devices that are different from those used in clinics and medical centers. This therapy is for both bald people and those who are experiencing unusual hair fall.

Studies showed that is a better alternative to surgeries. Laser hair loss treatment is a simple and very basic procedure. Traditionally, doctors used it for skin wounds healing. Now, they have widened its spectrum use to include hair regrowth. It uses therapeutic soft low light level lasers to penetrate the scalp and stimulate blood flow inside the deepest layers of the scalp.

The healing process takes some time before any significant achievements. That is why you may need a series of sessions to reach the results you desire. Within ten weeks, you should expect a remarkable change in your hair’s health and quality.

Laser hair loss treatment comes in different kinds. Laser hair combs do not require any clinical visits. They also use a low-level laser in order to promote hair regrowth. Their use is similar to that of regular brushes or combs. They tend to stimulate hair follicles by increasing your blood flow. This method is tested and recognized by the FDA.

Another efficient device is known as Laser Luce LDS. It is a device for domestic use as well. It is available for sale without prescription. Never the less, you have to consult your doctor before purchasing it. Your dermatologist can figure out whether your hair follicles are in their process of growth or not. If your hair follicles are in such stage, the doctor will recommend the laser Luce LDS use. These devices operate in a simple way. They too increase the blood flow to the scalp. The hair follicles will absorb the nutrients that they need for healthy hair growth.

Laser hair loss treatments generally operate under the same procedure. They use the right light wavelengths in order to enhance to tissue growth and then allow enough nutrients to reach the dormant hair follicles. In this way, the dying hair follicles revive again and regrow healthily.

Laser hair loss cure is remarkably effective. None the less, it should be used along with another treatment in order to reach the desired results.

There are many laser hair loss treatments tools that you may find in the Internet or in local stores. But you should always consult an expert before taking any actions to avoid drawbacks.