Propecia contains a medicine called finasteride. This belongs to a group of medicinescalled Type II ‘5-alpha reductase inhibitors’.
Propecia is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (also known as androgeneticalopecia). Propecia increases hair growth on the scalp and prevents further hair loss inmen. Men with mild to moderate, but not complete hair loss, can benefit from usingPropecia.
How does the hair on your head grow?On average your hair grows about 1 centimetre (half an inch) each month. Hair growsfrom hair follicles, which are located under your skin.
A single scalp hair grows continuously for 2-4 years (growth phase) and then stopsgrowing for 2-4 months (rest phase). After this the hair falls out. In its place a newhealthy hair begins to grow, and the cycle is repeated. The hairs on your scalp arealways in different stages of this cycle so it is normal to lose scalp hair every day.
What is male pattern hair loss?
Male pattern hair loss is a common condition in which men experience thinning of thehair on the scalp, often resulting in a receding hairline and/or balding on the top of thehead. This condition is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic factors and aparticular hormone, DHT (dihydrotestosterone).
DHT causes a decrease in the growth phase and thinning of the hair (see picture). Thisleads to male pattern hair loss. These changes can start to occur in some men in their20s and become more common with age. Once hair loss has occurred over a longperiod of time, the hair may be permanently lost.
Images are for illustration purposes only and may be substituted by an equivalent alternative.
Hair grows continuously for 2-4 years (growth phase) and then stopsgrowing for 2-4 months (rest phase). after changing from phase to phase newnewImages are for illustration purposes only and may be substituted by an equivalent.
Hair grows continuously for 2-4 years (growth phase) and then stopsgrowing for 2 months (rest phase)Propecia contains a warningon side effects that can occur from taking this drug. This medication should not be used by men who have prostate cancer, or by men who have previously had a heart attack or stroke. You must first speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking Propecia to ensure this medicine is safe and appropriate to you. It can be hard to tell the difference between Propecia and other male pattern hair loss medicines if you have had hair loss for any length of time (or longer). A different approach to talking to your doctor about Propecia may be useful.
How to use
The recommended dose of Propecia for both treatment and prevention of hair loss is one tablet taken orally in the morning and one tablet in the evening. It is taken at the same time each day. Do not take more than one tablet in a day. Women, men and some rare cases of breast cancer should consult their doctor before using Propecia as it may be associated with the development of breast cancer.
Warnings and precautions for use
You should not take Propecia if you are allergic to finasteride, or to similar medicines like dutasteride or to any of the other ingredients in Propecia. It is not known if Propecia passes into can reach the circulation during childbirth or if it is absorbed through the skin before becoming absorbed into the circulation.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Propecia if you are pregnant or may become pregnant while taking it.
It is not known if Propecia will harm an unborn baby.
Side effects
There are no known side effects with Propecia. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking Propecia and seek medical advice on how to manage them, or contact your doctor: headache, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, decreased sex drive, impotence or having sex with a partner with a slightly lower risk of sexual dysfunction, depression, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), other psychiatric symptoms (e.g.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning last month that finasteride (Proscar) users had an increased risk of breast cancer. The drug, which is marketed as Propecia, has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and may increase the risk of a rare type of breast cancer.
The FDA issued a warning that finasteride users may have a higher risk of developing a breast cancer that occurs in people taking the drug. The FDA has not determined whether that is related to the finasteride or if finasteride users have the same risk.
The drug, which is marketed as Propecia, is a medication approved to treat male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. The FDA first reviewed the drug in 1997, and it now has been on the market for several years. However, it is not currently approved for women and the FDA has not yet approved it for the male population.
Finasteride is the only FDA-approved drug that lowers the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body and helps prevent hair loss and other forms of hair loss, but it can also increase the risk of androgenetic alopecia, or type 2 diabetes. The drug has not been studied in women, so the FDA has not recommended it in women.
The drug is also used in the treatment of enlarged prostate. Finasteride is also used off-label to treat enlarged prostate, although it is approved for other conditions.
While the FDA did not have enough information about the potential drug risks to recommend finasteride for women and the FDA is considering its use for a new indication, the agency does have information about the increased risk of breast cancer and other types of cancer.
The FDA is also reviewing the FDA’s decision to change the drug’s label from Propecia to finasteride. It is not clear how the FDA will go about changing the label of the drug. The FDA is considering other, more scientific studies to determine whether finasteride is safe for women and to evaluate whether the FDA may need to add new warnings and new indications to its labels to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
A study that was published in the February 2016 issue of the journalAnnals of Internal Medicinefound that finasteride users had an increased risk of breast cancer. Researchers at the University of Florida and University of California at Los Angeles did not see an increased risk for any other type of cancer.
The study was led by Dr. Michael W. Ryan, professor of dermatology at the University of Washington and associate editor of theAmerican Journal of Dermatology.
Dr. Ryan reported that the risk of breast cancer in women taking finasteride was about one-third higher than in men taking the drug.
The risk for breast cancer was similar to men, so researchers could use a more definitive approach. The risk may be increased by a patient taking the drug for a long time and then taking it off-label for a different condition, such as or prostate cancer.
However, the FDA is not required to change labels for finasteride, so it does not recommend this drug in women and the FDA does not recommend or recommend that it be used for male pattern hair loss. The FDA has not determined whether finasteride and other drugs can cause breast cancer.
© 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press does not promote or sell this material or substitute any information or opinion to its editorial or other professional opinion.Propeciais a prescription medication that can treat male pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body, which is thought to be involved in the development of hair loss. Propecia was approved by the FDA in 1992 and is widely available without a prescription. It works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone to DHT.
What is Finasteride?Finasteride is an FDA-approved prescription medication for treating male pattern hair loss. It works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT, which is responsible for the miniaturization of hair follicles in the scalp. Finasteride can be taken daily for five months to treat male pattern hair loss.
How does Finasteride work?Finasteride blocks the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone to DHT in the body. This inhibition causes the hair follicles to shrink and eventually stop producing new hair. However, it can take up to several months to see noticeable results from this medication. If you are taking a medication for hair loss, Finasteride may be recommended for you to take for a longer period.
How should I take Finasteride?Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully and follow the dosage instructions provided by your healthcare provider. Do not take Finasteride in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Last updated 28 February 2022
No. While Boots is the mostubiquitoushigh-street pharmacy in the UK, it is often not the cheapest option for many medicines, and not for men requiring Propecia to treat.
Currently (March 2022)Boots sell finasteride tablets from 82p each– this is for generic finasteride 1mg, not branded Propecia from Merck. Boots sell Propecia from £1.19 per tablet.
To buy Propecia from Boots you will need to register with the Boots Hair Loss Online Clinic, and complete a medical questionnaire. After 2 days you can either pick-up your order from a Boots store or local Post Office, or have it delivered
Dr Fox also provides a mail order optionfor just 38p per tablet(plus small prescription fee and P& P). Dr Fox also provides.From online doctor and pharmacy.
| Supplier | 28 tablets | 56 tablets | 84 tablets | 168 tablets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr FoxGeneric finasteride | £12.20 | £21.50 | £31.20 | £58.80 |
| Branded Propecia | £42.40 | £81.70 | £108.40 | £214.00 |
| Boots Pharmacy | £51.00 | £91.00 | £110.00 | £200.00 |
.
Propecia 1mg tablets are prescription-only medicine for the treatment of male pattern hair loss and contains the active ingredientfinasterideIt is a daily tablet usually taken for many years, so cost savings can be significant. Propecia is sold in packs of 28 (4 weeks) or 84 (12 weeks).
Finasteride 1mg should not be confused with finasteride 5mg. Finasteride 5mg is used for the treatment of benign prostate cancer.
Propecia is a brand name for finasteride 1mg. Propecia lost its patent protection in allowing lower cost generics to be licenced for sale in the UK. Generic finasteride 1mg tablets and Propecia tablets are.
For further details please read:
Topical (minoxodil 5%) foam or lotion applied to the scalp twice daily is the only other effective hair loss treatment, and can be used at the same time as Propecia.
Men can also visit their GP or private doctor to obtain aprivate prescription for Propecia, and take that paper prescription into a Boots store. Doctors will charge for private prescriptions, usually £8-£20 but this can be much higher.
If you have a private paper prescription for 84 x Propecia 1mgtablets (12 weeks worth) prices are:
If you already have a private paper prescription you can post to our pharmacy ().
Prices withou say that they are:| Quantity | Cost | Cost Per tablet | Cost Per tablet per Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 tablets | £32. |
You should not use Propecia if you are taking any of the following medications:
You should not use Propecia if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant. You should not use this medicine if you are breast-feeding.
Propecia is for use by men only. It is not indicated in women. You should talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
You should talk to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications:
The recommended dose of Propecia is 0.625 mg taken as needed, about 1 to 3 hours before sexual activity. You should not use it more than once daily. If you have been advised by your doctor to use a higher dose of this medicine, please tell your doctor.
Propecia should not be used if you have any of the following conditions:
Although there are no statistics on the safety of using finasteride as a medicine, studies have shown that taking it can cause side effects. The most commonly reported side effects are:
Some men should not use Propecia. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
Propecia may cause a low level of potassium in the blood. Your doctor may change the dose of your medicines.