Finasteride (Propecia)

Finasteride is a substance sold usually under the names Propecia and Proscar and is a synthetic type-2 5α-reductase inhibitor. This enzyme converts Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Finasteride is approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male pattern baldness. It also reduces the risk of acute urinary retention and the risk of the need for surgery including transurethral resection of the prostate and prostatectomy. Finasteride is efficiently used in easing of several androgenic side effects associated with the use of anabolic steroids.

The action of Finasteride is preventing the conversion of Testosterone (the most powerful of all the hormone androgen) to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Testosterone has a significant impact not only on the prostate tissue, but also in hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Several tests proved that Finasteride at a dosage of 1 mg effectively solves the problem of male pattern baldness; prevent hair loss and stimulating new hair growth. Finasteride treats male pattern hair loss by blocking the body’s production of a male hormone in the scalp that stops hair growth. Finasteride has not been shown to treat thinning hair at the temples and is not used to treat hair loss in women or children.

In clinical studies for Finasteride, a small number of men experienced certain sexual side effects, such as less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection, or a decrease in the amount of semen. Use Propecia for women is strictly prohibited, as this can lead to serious side effects. And it should not be taken if a person has prostate cancer.