WHAT IS PROPECIA?

PROPECIA (Finasteride) is a medical breakthrough. The first pill that effectively treats male pattern hair loss on the vertex (at top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area.

Finasteride is typically used in men to treat urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate but may be used to treat acne in women. It blocks an enzyme that is instrumental in converting testosterone to another hormone that causes the growth of the prostate. The prostate decreases as a result. This effect only lasts as long as treatment with finasteride continues. Since the enzyme that produces an enlarged prostate also is responsible for acne, finasteride may be prescribed by your doctor for acne.

DOES PROPECIA REALLY WORK?

Based on vertex studies at 24 months of men 18 to 41 with mild to moderate hair loss, the clinical results of PROPECIA are impressive:

83% maintained their hair based on hair count (vs. 28% with placebo), 66% had visible regrowth as rated by independent dermatologists (vs. 7% with placebo), 80% were rated as improved by clinical doctors (vs. 47% with placebo), and most men reported an increase in the amount of hair, a decrease in hair loss, and improvement in appearance.

Only a doctor can determine if PROPECIA is right for you. PROPECIA is for men only. Further, women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use PROPECIA and should not handle crushed or broken tablets because it may cause abnormalities of a male baby's sex organs. PROPECIA tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling.

You may need to take PROPECIA daily for 3 months or more to see visible results. PROPECIA may not regrow all your hair. And if you stop using this product, you will gradually lose the hair you have gained. There is not sufficient evidence that finasteride works for recession at the temporal areas. If you haven't seen results after 12 months of using PROPECIA, further treatment is unlikely to be of benefit.

Like all prescription products, finasteride may cause side effects. In clinical studies, a very small number of men experienced certain side effects, such as: less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection, and a decrease in the amount of semen. Each of these side effects occurred in less than 2% of men. These side effects were reversible and went away in men who stopped taking the PROPECIA. They also disappeared in most men (58%) who continued taking PROPECIA.

Taken once a day in tablet form, PROPECIA is simple, easy, and -most important- clinically demonstrated to be effective in most men. PROPECIA helps grow natural hair not just "peach fuzz" and is as convenient to take as a vitamin: one pill a day.

HOW DOES PROPECIA WORK?

Scientist have recently discovered that men who suffer from male pattern hair loss have an increased level of a substance called DHT in their scalps. PROPECIA blocks the formation of DHT and in this way appears to interrupt a key factor in the development of male pattern hair loss in men. Most important, PROPECIA - helps grow natural hair, not just "peach fuzz," and is as convenient to take as a vitamin: one pill a day.

WHAT IS DHT?

DHT is one of many male hormones in the body. DHT is developmentally important early in a man's life; however, it appears to be a cause of hair loss as men get older. DHT shrinks the hair follicle until it no longer produces visible hair.

WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE PROPECIA?

PROPECIA is for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in MEN ONLY. Further, women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use PROPECIA and should not handle crushed or broken tablets of PROPECIA because it may cause abnormalities of a male baby's sex organs. PROPECIA tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling.

NEWLY DISCOVERED USES (OFF-LABEL)
Acne in women, hirsutism

HERBAL INTERACTIONS
St. John's wort, saw palmetto

PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING CAUTIONS
FDA Pregnancy Risk Category X. Pregnant women or women who may become pregnant should avoid contact with crushed or broken tablets. Not recommended during breast-feeding.

What is Finasteride?
Finasteride is an inhibitor of steroid 5-reductase, which appears to be the principal androgen responsible for stimulation of hair growth.
BRAND NAME
Proscar, Propecia

GENERIC NAME
Finasteride

CHEMICAL CLASS
5alpha-reductase inhibitor

THERAPEUTIC CLASS
Antiandrogen; hair growth stimulant
AVAIL FORMS
Tablets, Plain Coated - Oral 1 mg, 5 mg
DOSAGE
Adult
BPH: PO 5 mg qd
Hair loss: PO 1 mg qd; > 3 mo necessary for benefit to be noted.