Propecia info
Propecia prescription
drug medication is an androgen hormone inhibitor used to
treat male pattern hair loss IN MEN ONLY.
Propecia is
a tan-colored, 8-sided, film-coated tablet. It contains
1 mg of finasteride as the active ingredient.
Propecia blocks
an important enzyme (Type II 5-alpha reductase) involved
in the regulation of the hair follicle.
Please read
this leaflet before you start taking Propecia. Also, read
it each time you renew your prescription, just in case anything
has changed. Remember, this leaflet does not take the place
of careful discussions with your physician. You and your
physician should discuss Propecia when you start taking
your medication.
Why has your
physician prescribed Propecia? Your physician has prescribed
Propecia because you have male pattern hair loss (also known
as androgenetic alopecia).
Note: Propecia
is not for use by women or children.
How does scalp
hair grow? On average, your hair grows about 1 cm each month.
Hairs grow from hair follicles, which are located beneath
the skin.
A single scalp
hair grows continuously for 2 to 4 years (growth phase)
and then stops growing for 2 to 4 months (rest phase). After
that time the hair falls out. In its place a new healthy
hair begins to grow, and the cycle is repeated. The hairs
on your scalp are always in different stages of this cycle
so it is normal to lose scalp hair every day.
What is male
pattern hair loss? Male pattern hair loss is a common condition
in which men experience thinning of the hair on the scalp.
Often, this results in a receding hairline and/or balding
on the top of the head. This condition is thought to be
caused by a combination of heredity and a particular hormone,
DHT (dihydrotestosterone).
DHT contributes
to shortening of the growth phase and thinning of the hair.
This process leads to male pattern hair loss. These changes
typically start to occur in some men in their 20s and become
more common with age. Once hair loss has occurred over a
long period of time, the hair may be permanently lost.
How does Propecia
work? Propecia lowers the levels of DHT in the scalp, a
major cause of male pattern hair loss.
What should
I know before taking Propecia: In whom is Propecia expected
to work? Men with mild to moderate, but not complete, hair
loss can expect to benefit from the use of Propecia. In
women who were studied, Propecia was not effective in the
treatment of hair loss (androgenetic alopecia).
In most men,
Propecia prevented further hair loss during 2 years of use.
Moreover, for the majority of men, Propecia increased the
number of scalp hairs, helping to fill in thin or balding
areas of the scalp. Although results will vary, in general,
you will not be able to grow back all of the hair you have
lost.
Who should not
take Propecia? Propecia should not be taken by women or
children.
Women who are
or may potentially be pregnant must not use Propecia (see
Pregnancy).
Do not take
Propecia if you think you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
What should
I tell my physician before taking Propecia? Tell your physician
about any medical problems you have or have had and about
any allergies.
Pregnancy: Propecia
is for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in men only.
Women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use
Propecia. They should also not handle crushed or broken
tablets of Propecia. If the active ingredient in Propecia
is absorbed after oral use or through the skin by a woman
who is pregnant with a male baby, it may cause the male
baby to be born with abnormalities of the sex organs. If
a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active
ingredient in Propecia, a physician should be consulted.
Propecia tablets are coated and will prevent contact with
the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that
the tablets are not broken or crushed.
If you have
questions, ask your physician.
Can I take Propecia
with other medications? Propecia usually does not interfere
with other medicines. However, you should always tell your
physician about all medicines you are taking or plan to
take, including those obtained without prescription.
Can I continue
my current hair care routine? There should be no need to
change your current hair care routine (for example, shampooing
or haircuts).
Can I drive
or operate machinery while using Propecia? Propecia should
not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
How should I
take Propecia? Take 1 tablet of Propecia every day, with
or without food. Follow your physician's advice.
• Can
I use Propecia more than once a day? Propecia will not work
faster or better if you take it more than once a day. You
should only take one tablet of Propecia each day.
• How
long do I need to use Propecia? It is important to take
Propecia for as long as your physician prescribes it. Propecia
can only work over the long term if you continue taking
it.
• When
can I expect to see results from using Propecia? Male pattern
hair loss is a condition that develops over a long period
of time. On average, healthy hair grows only about 1 cm
each month. Therefore, it will take time to see any effect.
In general, daily use for three months or more may be necessary
before you notice that hair growth is increased or further
hair loss is prevented.
• What
happens if I stop using Propecia? Continued use of Propecia
is recommended to obtain maximum benefit. If you stop taking
Propecia, you will likely lose the hair you have gained
within 12 months of stopping treatment.
What should
I do in case of an overdose? If you take too many tablets,
contact your physician promptly.
What should
I do if I miss a dose? Try to take Propecia as your physician
has prescribed. However, if you miss a dose, do not take
an extra one. Just take the next tablet as usual.
What undesirable
effects may Propecia have? Like any medicine, Propecia may
have unintended or undesirable effects, so-called side effects.
These are uncommon and do not affect most men.
Only a small
number of men may experience less desire to have sex and/or
difficulty in achieving an erection. An even smaller number
may have a decrease in the amount of semen released during
sex (this does not appear to interfere with normal sexual
function). In clinical studies, these side effects disappeared
in men who stopped taking Propecia and in most men (58%)
who continued treatment.
In general use,
the following have been reported infrequently: allergic
reactions including rash, itching, hives, and swelling of
the lips and face; problems with ejaculation; breast tenderness
and enlargement; and testicular pain.
Tell your physician
or pharmacist promptly about these or any other unusual
symptoms.
Propecia can
affect a blood test called PSA (prostate-specific antigen)
used for the screening of prostate cancer. If you have a
PSA test done, you should tell your physician that you are
taking Propecia.
• Does
the use of Propecia affect the hair on other parts of my
body? In clinical studies, Propecia did not affect hair
on other parts of the body.
How can I learn
more about Propecia and male pattern hair loss? If after
reading this leaflet you still have any questions or are
not sure about anything, ask your physician or pharmacist,
who have more detailed information about Propecia and male
pattern hair loss.
This medicine
is prescribed for your specific medical condition and for
your own use. Use only as specifically directed and do not
give to other people.
Keep all medicines
out of the reach of children.
Store Propecia
in a dry place at room temperature (15 to 30°C) and
protect from moisture. Keep blister in the outer carton
until all tablets are used. |
