Hair loss treatment Propecia

While generally considered safe for treating hair loss, Propecia, like any medication, may cause occasional side effects.  

If you experience depressive episodes or suicidal thoughts while using Propecia for male pattern hair loss, it is advisable to discontinue Propecia (finasteride 1 mg) immediately. Notify a healthcare professional about your symptoms for appropriate guidance and support. 

Uncommon side effects: 

• reduced sex drive  

• erectile dysfunction (ED)  

• abnormal ejaculation  

• feelings of depression  

Rare side effects include:  

• tender or swollen breasts and nipples 

• nipple discharge 

• breast or underarm lumps  

• testicular pain  

• blood in semen 

• anxiety 

• palpitations 

• facial and extremity bloating 

• altered liver enzymes 

• persistent reduced sex drive or ED after finishing treatment 

• male infertility or semen-related issues 

Any changes in the chest wall, such as lumps, pain, or nipple discharge, should be promptly reported to a doctor, as they could signify serious issues, potentially including cancer.   

If you have swelling of your lips or tongue, breathing difficulties, rashes, or difficulty swallowing, you must call 999 right away as you may be having a severe allergic reaction.   

Always read the patient information leaflet for Propecia 1mg before taking it. 

Propecia and Regaine work differently to help with hair loss. Propecia is said to be about 90% effective at stopping hair loss after 5 years, and Regaine has shown to be 60% effective in a 48-week study. Even though they work in their own ways, many people use them together to treat hair loss. This gives you a good chance of slowing down hair loss and getting new hair to grow. 

Propecia is available in a once-daily tablet form containing 1mg of finasteride, making it easy for individuals to introduce into their daily routine. 

According to the patient information leaflet, it may take 3 to 6 months for the full effect of Propecia to develop.

Clinical studies have shown that finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia, has been effective in either maintaining or improving hair levels over 5 years for 90% of men (compared to 75% visible hair loss on placebo).

Propecia should not be taken by women.

The 1mg Propecia tablet should be taken once daily at the same time every day. 

Propecia can be taken with or without food and should be swallowed whole without breaking or crushing the tablet.

It doesn’t matter whether you take your Propecia tablet in the morning, afternoon, or evening as long as you remember to take it at the same time every day.

If you forget to take your Propecia tablet within 6 hours of your usual time, it's okay to take it. If it is any longer than 6 hours, skip this dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Reading your patient information leaflet is the best way to learn how to correctly take your Propecia tablets.

Propecia 1mg is prescribed to men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) to help reduce hair loss and promote hair regrowth.

It is only available as a 1mg dosage in the UK, as there is no difference in effectiveness for treating male pattern baldness when compared to higher 5mg dosages. The higher 5mg dosage could also increase your risk of experiencing side effects. 

It's important to stick to your GP's prescribed dosage and not make any changes on your own. Stopping the treatment without your GP's guidance could cause your hair loss symptoms to return.

Propecia is a clinically proven hair loss treatment that blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production, a naturally occurring hormone known to be the cause of hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia. 

Blocking DHT production allows the hair growth cycle to lengthen and the hair follicles to regrow. This leads to a slower rate of hair loss and prevention of further hair thinning.

An expert panel review of finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia, over five years saw ‘durable improvements to scalp hair growth’ and that it ‘slowed the further progression of hair loss that occurred without treatment’. Although most men with male pattern baldness find Propecia to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment, it's not guaranteed to work for everyone.

Propecia and Minoxidil are both clinically proven to treat male pattern baldness. While they both work in different ways to tackle male pattern baldness, there are a few similarities, such as:

• They both trigger an initial shedding phase, during which older hairs are pushed out and replaced by new ones. This generally lasts 2-4 weeks. 

• Both treatments usually take 3-6 months of continuous daily use before you start to see visible results, such as a reduction in hair loss.

• Neither is a permanent cure; they only work for as long as you continue to use them, and hair loss can revert to what it was before you started the treatment within 9-12 months. 

Find out more information about treatments for male pattern baldness in our article ‘Hair loss: Causes, symptoms, and treatments’.

The main difference between Propecia and Minoxidil is that Propecia is a prescription-only oral medication. 

In contrast, Minoxidil is an over-the-counter topical medication. This can make Minoxidil the preferred treatment for men at risk of experiencing systemic side effects (those which affect the entire body). 

That is because Minoxidil is much more likely only to affect the area in which it is applied. 

Other differences between Propecia and Minoxidil include:

• Women must not use Propecia for female pattern baldness, as it is only clinically approved for the treatment of male pattern baldness.

• Minoxidil is available in formulas designed specifically for female and male pattern baldness. 

• Minoxidil is available in solutions of 2% and 5%, and Propecia is only available as a 1mg finasteride tablet.