Bosley Hair Replacement > Hair Loss and Solutions > Propecia for Baldness
PropeciaŽ
(Finasteride 1 mg.)
In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first pill to treat male pattern baldness. PropeciaŽ (finasteride 1 mg.) is a tablet taken once a day, available by doctor's prescription only.
Many men are concerned about reported sexual side effects with the drug. In truth, the side effect of lower libido was noted in only 1.8% of the men taking the drug in clinical trials versus 1.3% on a placebo. Furthermore, this side effect always went away in men who stopped taking PropeciaŽ and also disappeared in most men who continued taking PropeciaŽ, according to the manufacturer Merck & Co.
An estimated 1 million men in the United States take PropeciaŽ daily according to Merck. Most men taking PropeciaŽ experience an increase in hair count, a decrease in degree of baldness and an improvement in appearance.
Men who visit Bosley often ask the doctors if they'll need to take PropeciaŽ if they have hair transplants. Although we believe PropeciaŽ is a good adjunct to hair transplants, it's a matter of personal choice. Based on experience, we believe that the vast majority of the transplanted hair will grow naturally for a lifetime without the need for medical management. Long-term growth of the transplanted hair is ensured by the hormone resistant nature of the hair follicles utilized by the doctor to accomplish the restoration. However, PropeciaŽ serves an extremely useful purpose for those men who want to slow down the progressive thinning of non-transplanted hair. While only 5% of the men in clinical trials were judged to have "greatly" increased the hair in the vertex, an impressive 83% maintained or increased their hair count while on PropeciaŽ, according to Merck, and 66% had a visible increase in their scalp hair.
How does PropeciaŽ work to combat baldness? Scientists have discovered that the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is one of the principal factors in male pattern hair loss. PropeciaŽ inhibits the formation of DHT and helps interrupt this key factor in the development of inherited male pattern hair loss in men. Most men who take PropeciaŽ experience a slowing or cessation of hair loss over the back and top of the scalp.
Of course it is important to have realistic expectations. First of all, results take time. If you are not willing to commit yourself to taking PropeciaŽ for at least twelve months, it's probably not worth starting. Secondly, PropeciaŽ must be taken on an ongoing basis to maintain the benefit. Merck states that any hair grown or maintained by PropeciaŽ will be lost within twelve months if the patient stops taking the medication. Further, men who are already "shiny bald" are less likely to benefit from PropeciaŽ because the hair follicles may not be salvageable. Men who have early thinning in the back and top have a better chance to see some benefit, but as noted above, only for as long as they continue taking the medication.
When you become a Bosley patient, your physician may prescribe PropeciaŽ as a part of your hair restoration plan. Hair transplantation is still the preferred solution to permanent hair loss for most people. As a convenience, patients can order PropeciaŽ from Bosley through CareScripts, a provider of online healthcare solutions.
Our autoship program will allow you to schedule your refills in advance until the prescription expiration date. When you come in for your consultation with a Bosley physician, you will receive an ID number to be used when ordering.
Enrollment is simple, fast, and secure. As a Bosley patient, you are entitled to special pricing and periodic promotional rebates. Right now you can save $25 on PropakŽ (90 day supply) a $100 annual savings. If your PropeciaŽ prescription was issued by a non-Bosley M.D., you may still refill your prescription through our website by faxing the prescription to CareScripts at 1-480-632-6690. No PropeciaŽ prescriptions will be written for female patients.
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