What is Propecia, and how is it different from Rogaine?
Propecia 1 mgm. (Merck) is a once-a-day pill for the treatment of hair loss in men. It was introduced in February 1998. In a five year study, 90% of balding men showed no decrease in their hair counts. The amount of hair growth that one can expect is variable, with moderate to significant regrowth density in less than 15%. Chemically, it is finasteride, a pill that is used in 5mgm doses for patients with prostate enlargement. Finasteride appears to be quite safe and has been on the market for years. Propecia is responsible for sexual dysfunction, i.e impotence and decreased libido in about 0.5% of patients who use it. The drug has proven not to work for women with pattern hair loss, and should not to be used by women in child-bearing years. Men using Propecia can safely impregnate females with no fear of fetal abnormalities. A new drug called dutasteride (Glaxo) is being used much in the same way Propecia is used. It has been reported as being more effective, but it has more side effec
