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Take the time to learn about the potential benefits, the health risks and the many unknowns regarding generic propecia. It can be frightening to read a list of the side effects of Finasteride. More than a few of my patients have immediately assumed that they would suffer from all of them. The truth is that most people will experience none of them, just the benefits of Finasteride. Side effects vary from person to person and it is impossible to predict exactly how each individual will be affected. Some characteristics and pre-existing conditions are known to increase the risk from certain side effects. Doctors should assess these factors before advising patients on which drugs to choose. The FDA monitors reports of adverse drug reactions and has found no difference in the rates between generic and brand name drugs.

Finasteride (brand name Propecia) is an orally administered medication for male pattern hair loss. Finasteride when taken for about a month during the clinical trials showed a significant hair growth in the bald men. This proved a fact that Finasteride can be used as a hair loss treatment. Finasteride is the also found to be useful in the prostate cancer treatment as per the latest research studies.

Male pattern baldness

The hair loss problem is noted in the men due to the excessive amount of the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) amount in the body. DHT is found primarily in the prostate gland, testes, hair follicles, and adrenal glands. Once the production of the DHT is increased it sticks around the hair follicles and reduces the supply of the nutrients to the hairs. This results into the breaking of the hairs from the root. Many times hairs first get thin due to the insufficient supply of the nutrients and later on they break due the weakening from its roots.

How does Propecia work

Finasteride treats the baldness in the men by controlling the activity of the enzyme type II alpha reductase. As a result of this the production of the dihydrotestosterone from the testosterone is stopped, thus preventing the hair loss from occurring. You would be able to see the effect of Finasteride within a month of usage of drug. Take the Finasteride pills as 1mg dosage in a day. It is advisable for the old men to start the dosage with 0.5 mg and later on increase the dosage to 1 mg if no side effects are noted.

What Side Effects May Occur?

Because Finasteride affects the male hormone in our body, women escpecially are cautioned against using the drug since it may give rise to birth defects. Also, about 2 % of the participants who underwent the clinical testing for Propecia reported that they have reduced libido. People who decide to take finasteride for hair loss should be aware of this potential side effects. However, Merck argues that the side effects happened to only about 2% of the participants, which is quite insignificant considering the fact that about 1.4% of the controlled group (participants who took a placebo) had the same experience.