Propecia
Propecia is the first and the only treatment available
for male pattern hair loss on the vertex (the top of the head)
and the anterior mid scalp area (the middle front of the head).
The effectiveness of Propecia pills in eradicating the hairlines
at the temples has not been proved yet.
Propecia pills (Finasteride 1mg)
Finasteride was approved initially in 1992 as Proscar, a
treatment for prostate enlargement, but the sponsor had studied
1mg of finasteride and demonstrated hair growth in male pattern
hair loss. On December 22, 1997, the FDA approved finasteride
to treat male pattern hair loss.
Drug trade names include Propecia and Proscar, both products
of Merck & Co. (the former is marketed for hair loss in
male pattern baldness, and the latter for BPH).
There is 1mg of finasteride in Propecia pils and 5mg
in Proscar pills.
In a 5-year study of men with mild to moderate hair loss,
48% of those treated with Propecia
(finasteride 1mg) experienced some regrowth of hair, and
42% had no further loss. Average hair count in the treatment
group remained above baseline, and showed an increasing difference
from hair count in the placebo group, for all five years of
the study. Propecia is effective only for as long as it is
taken; the hair gained or maintained is lost within 6-12 months
of ceasing therapy. In clinical studies, Propecia pill, like
minoxidil, was shown to work on both the crown area and the
hairline, but is most successful in the crown area. It has
been shown to be ineffective for treating hair loss in women.
However, Propecia's supporters respond that the study was
on post-menopausal women whose hair loss was more likely related
to the loss of estrogen versus a sensitivity to testosterone.
Many doctors prescribe
it for women, but not without either careful birth control
measures or assurance that the woman cannot become pregnant.
Click here for more infromation about Propecia
- Finasteride.
External links:
Propecia
Manufacturer's website
Propecia
Patient Information 
Propecia
Safety Information: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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