Generic Propecia (Finasteride)

1. What is Propecia?

Propecia (active ingredient Finasteride) is a modern preparation that appeared not so long ago but has already received a lot of positive reviews. The drug is able to treat male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia).

The medicine received the approval of the European Medicines Agency and was recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which confirmed the clinical efficacy and safety of this drug.

Propecia is a unique drug. These are the first tablets in the world that effectively eliminate the problem of baldness. Its effectiveness and duration of effect in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia is much higher than that of other means, so now these pills are called “the number two medicine” for men (the second place after Viagra). After successful clinical trials, the popularity of this drug is steadily growing. As already noted, the main active substance of Propecia is finasteride, which gained popularity in 1992, when it was used in medical practice for the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia. Men who treated baldness with finasteride noted the increase in hair growth on the head.

2. Mechanism of action

Finasteride refers to synthetic agents, it exhibits an antiandrogenic effect. The agent blocks the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which dramatically increases the activity of testosterone, turning it into another compound – dihydrotestosterone. As a result, its concentration in the blood decreases. It is known that the “male hormone” promotes baldness: this problem often occurs in patients with high testosterone levels. In addition, a high level of hormones in the blood increases the size of the prostate gland.

When the concentration of dihydrotestosterone decreases in the blood, the prostate size decreases and urination improves, therefore officially Propecia (Finasteride) is indicated in prostate adenoma. It is also an antitumor antiandrogen.

The substance is also able to return hair growth, so these tablets are indicated for baldness, but only if this condition is accompanied by an increase in the level of male hormones in the blood.

3. Indications for use

Propecia is used to treat hereditary forms of alopecia. The use of this drug in other forms of alopecia is not only useless but also harmful. Finasteride is a substance that has an inhibitory effect on hormones, and it can be used only with their apparent excess, which occurs, of course, only in the male body.

Therefore, finasteride pills can only be used by men, only after a visit to a doctor – a trichologist who confirms alopecia diagnosis only after determining the level of androgens of the blood. Otherwise (if the level of hormones is average or low) finasteride will not help in alopecia, but on the contrary, will cause side effects associated with the oppression of the male function. The most common symptoms are gynecomastia and enlargement of the mammary glands.

Finasteride is not used in women. After all, the increased level of androgens in women is a sign of a disease, for example, polycystic ovaries. Therefore, using Propecia in women is meaningless.

4. Instructions for use and dosage

Using Propecia is very simple – one tablet a day. There are different dosages available. Only a doctor can determine the dosage required.

It is important to know that hormonal alopecia affects the forehead and parietal areas of the head, where the hair follicles “respond” to androgens. Applying finasteride for alopecia at the nape, with nest alopecia is also useless and harmful.

Taking this drug, remember that you can expect a visible effect not earlier than in half a year of regular use. Therefore, it is necessary to take a long course, and of course, to control the concentration of hormones in the blood during this period. Usually, an even longer course of taking finasteride is required (1 or 2 years).

Untimely cessation of therapy can often be accompanied by relapses, you’d better immediately adjust to a long and successful treatment for alopecia. In case you forgot to take the medicine, just skip this day and continue the course of treatment at the initial dosage. Unauthorized increase in a dosage is unacceptable, as it increases the risk of side effects. Gradually, you will begin to notice improvement, and after about half a year you will see healthy new hair that will return a young and fresh appearance.

5. Overdose

In clinical studies, a single dose of Finasteride 400 mg and multiple doses up to 80 mg/day for three months did not lead to any side effects. There are no specific recommendations for the treatment of an overdose.

6. Contraindications

• Propecia is contraindicated in women and also men who have hair loss started before the age of 18 – 20;
• The drug is also contraindicated in men with diseases of the endocrine glands;
• Finasteride and all its generics are contraindicated in severe hepatic and renal failure, allergic reaction and drug intolerance.

7. Side effects

Side effects of Propecia are dose-dependent: the higher the dose, the more the level of male hormones decreases. With long-term admission, according to patients, there may develop the following adverse reactions:

• decreased sexual desire, or libido;
• decreased volume of ejaculate during ejaculation (due to a decreased prostate);
• an allergic rash;
• prolonged use of high doses may provoke the development of signs of feminization (gynecomastia).

8. Interactions

There is no clinically significant interaction of Propecia with other drugs.

There are no clinically significant manifestations of Finasteride interaction with propranolol, digoxin, glibenclamide, warfarin, theophylline, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, alpha-adrenoblockers, beta-adrenoblockers, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, diuretics, H2-histamine receptor blockers, HMG-CoA- reductase inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, quinolones, and benzodiazepines.

9. Propecia and Alcohol

Propecia is compatible with alcohol in small amounts. The process of producing dihydrotestosterone does not depend on ethanol, so during treatment, a man is allowed to take up to 100 mg of strong alcohol per day. During a therapeutic course, the trichologist recommends patients to follow a daily routine and a diet. If you want to get the best results and avoid low potency and weak erection, we recommend refraining from the abuse of alcoholic beverages.

10. Special instructions

• Treatment of alopecia is directly dependent on the level of hormones, which, in its turn, depends on the dosage of the medication. Therefore, it is allowed to gradually increase the dosage of the drug from 1 mg to 5 mg per day, as the instruction allows, but under the control of the level of blood hormones;
• Since finasteride is used not only for male baldness but, according to the instructions, for the treatment of prostate adenoma, before taking the tablets it is necessary to undergo an examination and exclude prostate and urethral diseases, especially prostatitis and urogenital infections;
• Propecia can harm your body if you are self-medicated. Before taking the drug, it is necessary to consult a doctor, determine the indications and check hormones. There are contraindications and side effects, so the treatment should take place under the supervision of a doctor;
• In the case you missed the medication, you should not take it the next day at a double dosage. Remember that to achieve a steady effect, you do not need a rapid change in the concentration of hormones in the blood but their long and constant decline. Just skip one day, and continue the reception next day, as usual.

11. Generic Propecia

What is left is to tell about generics of Propecia containing finasteride and taken for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. According to the reviews, the result from the generic drug is identical to the effect of the original remedy. The instructions, dosages and side effects of thу brand-name medicine are similar to Finasteride and Proscar, except for the price, which can be several times lower.

The only difficulty is that almost all branded preparations are produced in a limited number of dosages, unlike generics. If necessary, you can divide each tablet into parts and use it for 5 days. According to the patients’ feedback, this is not difficult, many men divide the pill into 4 parts and start treatment with a dose of 1 mg. Using generic Propecia is much simpler, and the drug has the same efficiency.