Losing
hair? A new drug may help; Propecia; Brief Article
June, 1998
When Propecia hit pharmacy shelves this year, it
brought to the balding population a huge promise--and plenty of questions. Here
are the facts about the first and only hair regrowth pill.
Does it work? Propecia (generic name finasteride) shows great promise for men.
In clinical trials of 1,879 balding men, more than 80% of those taking Propecia
experienced no hair loss during the two year period--even better, 66% showed
hair regrowth. In some men, results were seen in three months, but it may take
longer.
Unlike minoxidil (Rogaine), whose mechanism has never been understood,
Propecia's success makes sense, says Ivan Cohen, MD, assistant professor of
dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT. Propecia
works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into DHT
(dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles--a key factor in
male hair loss. By reducing DHT levels 60%, Propecia can stop hair loss and in
many cases trigger hair growth, explains Keith Kaufman, MD, of Merck Research
Laboratories, Propecia's makers in Rahway, NJ.
Can women use it? Not if they're of childbearing age, says Dr. Kaufman.
Propecia can cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy. In fact, pregnant
women are discouraged from handling broken pills because the drug may be
absorbed through the skin.
As for other women, the jury's still out. Propecia works by acting on hormones
such as testosterone. Since women tend to have lower levels of this, the
results may be different.
For women whose hair loss is due to high testosterone or low estrogen after
menopause, there's a chance Propecia may work, says Dr. Cohen. A more
definitive answer is on the way: Results of a study on post-menopausal women
with thinning hair are expected later this year.
Are there side effects?
The only reported side effects are decreased libido and impotence, but they're
extremely rare. Only 1.8% of the men taking Propecia experienced decreased
libido, while 1.3% of those taking the placebo did. Of the men PAGE 8
Prevention June, 1998
taking Propecia, 1.3% experienced impotence, while 0.7% of those taking the
placebo did. Better news: When they stopped taking the drug, these side effects
went away. And in roughly 60% of the men who continued taking it, side effects
disappeared.
How much does it cost? A month's prescription costs $ 45 to $ 49, or about $
550 a year. It's a lifelong investment. If you stop taking it, you'll start
losing your hair again.
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