Description
Propecia contains a medicine called finasteride. This belongs to a group of medicines called Type II ‘5-alpha reductase inhibitors’.
Propecia is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia). Propecia increases hair growth on the scalp and prevents further hair loss in men. Men with mild to moderate, but not complete hair loss, can benefit from using Propecia.
How does the hair on your head grow?
On average your hair grows about 1 centimetre (half an inch) each month. Hair grows from hair follicles, which are located under your skin.
A single scalp hair grows continuously for 2-4 years (growth phase) and then stops growing for 2-4 months (rest phase). After this 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 resulting in a receding hairline and/or balding on the top of the head. This condition is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic factors and a particular hormone, DHT (dihydrotestosterone).
DHT causes a decrease in the growth phase and thinning of the hair (see picture). This leads to male pattern hair loss. These changes can 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. This helps to reverse the balding process, leading to an increased hair growth and prevention of further hair loss.
Uses / Instructions
The recommended dose is one tablet each day. The tablet can be taken with or
without food.
If you take more Propecia than you should
If you take too many tablets by mistake, contact your doctor immediately. Propecia will
not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day. If you forget to take Propecia
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose
Warnings
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Propecia if:
• You are going to have a blood test for prostate cancer called PSA (prostate-specific
antigen). This is because Propecia can affect the result of this test.
Effects on fertility
Infertility has been reported in men who took finasteride for long time and had other
risk factors that may affect fertility. Normalisation or improvement of seminal quality
has been reported after discontinuation of finasteride. Long-term clinical studies about
the effects of finasteride on fertility in men have not been conducted.
Mood alterations and depression
Mood alterations such as depressed mood, depression and, less frequently, suicidal
thoughts have been reported in patients treated with Propecia. If you experience any of
these symptoms stop taking Propecia and contact your doctor for further medical advice
as soon as possible.
Children and adolescents
Propecia should not be used in children. There are no data demonstrating efficacy or
safety of finasteride in children under the age of 18.
See patient information leaflet for more details.
Side Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets
them. Some of the side effects are temporary with continued treatment or disappeared
when treatment is stopped.
Stop taking Propecia and talk to your doctor if you experience:
• Symptoms of an allergic reaction: swelling of your lips, face, tongue and throat;
difficulty swallowing; lumps under your skin (hives) and breathing difficulties. Stop
taking Propecia and talk to your doctor immediately.
• Depression (feeling of severe sadness and unworthiness).
You should promptly report to your doctor any changes in your breast tissue such as
lumps, pain, enlargement or nipple discharge as these may be signs of a serious
condition, such as breast cancer.
See patient information leaflet for more details.
Ingredients
• The active substance is finasteride. Each tablet contains 1 mg finasteride.
• The other ingredients are: lactose, microcrystalline cellulose E460, pregelatinised
maize starch, sodium starch glycollate, docusate sodium, magnesium stearate
E572, hypromellose E464, hydroxypropyl cellulose E463, titanium dioxide, talc,
yellow iron oxide E172, red iron oxide E172.
Shipping Countries:
United Kingdom (UK)
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