PROPECIA 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.

PROPECIA is available as a 1-mg tablet. This tablet is tan in color and is octagonal (has eight sides). It is film-coated, rounded, and has a somewhat elevated surface. Each PROPECIA tablet is marked with a "stylized P" logo on one side and PROPECIA on the other. The tablets are supplied as individual bottles of 30 tablets and in PROPAK?, a carton of 3 bottles, each containing 30 tablets for a total of 90 tablets.

Most hair loss sufferers should consider using a proven hair loss drug like Propecia or Avodart, whether they do hair transplantation or not. These drugs can often stop or even reverse hair loss in most people. Studies have shown that 80% of men using Propecia stopped or even reversed their hair loss to some degree. Preliminary clinical trials for Avodart appear even more effective than Propecia. However, neither Propecia nor Avodart has been proven to restore hair in the frontal areas.

The causes of hair loss are not well defined; however, researchers have found that men with male pattern hair loss have increased levels of DHT in the balding area of their scalps. Human hair normally follows a cycle of growth, falling out, and new growth. But increased levels of DHT are believed to contribute to the shortening of the growth phase, and a shortening of the time it takes for the hair to fall out. This results in a thinning of the hair on the scalp.

Like all prescription drugs, PROPECIA may cause side effects. In clinical studies, side effects from PROPECIA were uncommon and did not affect most men. A very small number of men experienced certain sexual 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 PROPECIA.

Propecia launched around the same time as Viagra (jokes and media coverage), which is unfortunate since Propecia can benefit a much larger percent of the population and is very safe. No. It can work all over, as long as the balding is not complete. It has the potential to work wherever there are miniaturized (fine) hairs. It is just that the crown has a longer phase where the hairs are in their transitional state. That is why it is important to treat the front early on.

Both medications contain Finasteride and are made by the same company. The only difference between them is strength. Propecia has 1 mg of Finasteride, while Proscar has 5 mg. Proscar has been around for awhile for the treatment of prostate enlargement, which, like pattern loss, has been linked to DHT. Because of the price disparity between the two medications, some people procure Proscar and divide the tablets into smaller dosages instead of buying Propecia.