The active ingredient of Propecia tablets is a substance called finasteride, containing 1 mg of it in each tablet. Magnesium stearate, docusate sodium, sodium starch glycollate, maize starch, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, talc, yellow iron oxide, red iron oxide, lactose and microcrystalline cellulose are the other ingredients.
Propecia must not be used by women, as it a medicine for men. Even clinical studies have shown that it does not work in women. Avoid taking Propecia if you are allergic to any of its ingredients mentioned above or if you are already taking finasteride for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is a prostate problem. Propecia must not be used in children and it must be kept away from pregnant women. This medicine can affect the baby’s sex organs.
Taking Propecia must be stopped and the doctor must be consulted immediately if you face any allergic reactions to the medicine.
The following side effects may also be seen, which may usually disappear on continuing with the medication. If the symptoms persist, they can be resolved by stopping Propecia. - Impotence - Less sex drive - Problems with ejaculation - Decrease in the amount of semen - Swollen or tender breasts - Infertility - Testicular pain - Persistent decrease in sex drives after discontinuing treatment - Depression
Propecia must be taken exactly as your doctor has prescribed to you. The recommended dose is generally one tablet a day. Propecia must not be used by women or children. If too many Propecia tablets are taken by mistake, your doctor may be consulted immediately. It may also be noted that taking extra Propecia would not work any better than taking the recommended dose of one tablet per day.
Never take a double dose to compensate for the missed dose, in case a dose is missed. The treatment may be continued as usual.
Taking Propecia may be continued for as long as the doctor advises you to. It may take 3 to 6 months to show full effect depending on the person. If taking Propecia is stopped, the hair that was gained using this medicine is likely to be lost within 9 to 12 months.
Male pattern baldness is thought to be caused by the action of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in addition to genetic factors. DHT causes a decline in the growth phase of hair and becomes responsible for gradual thinning of hair, which manifests itself as baldness over time. Propecia, through its active ingredient finasteride, reduces the levels of DHT in the scalp. Due to the reduction in the amount of DHT, it is possible to reverse its actions like the thinning of hair. It will lead to increased hair growth and also the prevention of hair loss in the future.
