Drug Details
Therapeutic Class:
5-alpha reductase inhibitor
Forms:
Tablet
Administration:
By mouth
Therapeutic Uses:
Androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness)
Controlled Status:
Not a controlled substance
What is Propecia (finasteride)?
Propecia (pro pee shuh) is an oral prescription medication that is used to treat male pattern baldness (baldness at the crown and anterior mid-scalp area in men). This condition affects roughly 50% of men above the age of 40.
Propecia contains 1 mg of finasteride. There may be other uses of Propecia —your pharmacist or physician can give you further information.
Who can take Propecia (finasteride)?
Propecia is approved by the FDA to be used in adult men. The use of Propecia in pediatric and female patients is not indicated. What is the reason behind that? The chemical of Propecia is teratogenic, meaning that it can cause birth defects. Propecia (finasteride) can be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream, so pregnant women and those trying to conceive should not handle these pills.
However, this does not mean that women cannot take Propecia (finasteride)! At a higher dose, Propecia can be used to treat hair loss in women who are not planning to get pregnant. For women at childbearing age who are interested in using Propecia for the treatment of hair loss, a reliable method of birth control must be used. Talk to your doctor to see if Propecia (finasteride) is a good option for you.
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