Daily Archives: 25.05.2018

Medical Uses of Propecia

Propecia is an effective and safe FDA approved medication, which is classified as a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. The treatment contains Finasteride as an active component. The ingredient triggers a powerful influence on the organism, preventing testosterone conversion into dihydrotestosterone and reducing the negative impact of the latter. Consequently, the medication is prescribed for patients, who have problems or health abnormalities related to these processes.

According to the medical information, Propecia is a powerful drug which features three main uses, including:

  • Treatment of alopecia (male-pattern hair loss that usually occurs on the anterior mid-scalp area and vertex);
  • Improvement of benign prostatic hyperplasia;
  • Prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

Additionally, Propecia can be administered in several other instances, though they are not mentioned in the safety guide. Any treatment course, irrespective of the underlying health problem, should be supervised and guided by the doctor, as it is the guarantee of successful and flawless results.

Advantages and Risks of the Drug Intake

Being a prescription and FDA approved medication, Propecia is likely to be safe and trigger only positive and beneficial influences on the treated disorders. However, to achieve the maximal results, a patient needs to use the drug in the recommended dose and following other safety recommendations and instructions. Keep in mind all the contraindications and precautions for Propecia use to avoid complications and potential adverse reactions.

As a treatment which interferes with important body hormones, Propecia course can result in a range of beneficial reactions and dangerous outcomes. Therefore, learn the specifications and possible risks before the use of Finasteride.

Pros:

  • Despite all the preconceptions, Propecia is an effective drug that eliminates the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Even a small dose of Finasteride can launch positive changes and considerably improve the disorder;
  • According to the results of various medical researches and studies, Propecia works preventing further hair loss and triggering rapid and quality hair regrowth;
  • Negative side effects appear ultimately rarely and bother a small percentage of patients.

Cons:

  • The treatment should be administered for a long term, and the condition will reappear the moment you discontinue the drug use;
  • High Finasteride doses can have a negative influence on the male health, enhancing the risk of cancer development;
  • There is a risk of sex-related disorders occurrence, especially erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and weaker sex drive.

While Propecia benefits are constant, its drawbacks are easily avoidable. Keep in mind that Finasteride is a male drug that can never be administered by children or women. An individually adjusted dose that suits all the individual health peculiarities and specifications of a patient is the key to successful medication use.

Prostate Cancer and Propecia

Prostate cancer is a dangerous condition, which is typical for older males, though there are instances, when young men are diagnosed with the issue, too. The most important fact about Propecia is the fact that its symptoms usually appear in late stages, which makes the treatment more difficult and chances for recovery considerably smaller. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, which can be noticed because of an enlarged or swollen prostate, is the first sign of cancer risk. It is inevitable to seek medical assistance the moment you have noticed any disorders or related abnormalities.

Traditionally, patients undergo a physical prostate exam and a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test before they are diagnosed with the disorder. Fortunately, the pharmaceutical market is filled with various medications that can contribute to the condition improvement if it is detected in early stages. According to the results of numerous researches, including the most recent ones, Propecia promotes a positive impact on prostate, decreasing the PSA levels and preventing further prostate cancer development. Further, the doctor will use biopsy and ultrasound imaging to check prostate for potential cancer.

Propecia as Innovative Prostate Cancer Treatment: Studies and Their Results

According to the pharmaceutical information, Propecia is an effective medication, which belongs to a group of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. The medication contains Finasteride as an active ingredient. The treatment has proved to be a powerful chemopreventive agent in prostate cancer treatment. Following the PCPT (Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial), Propecia and its components managed to decrease the risk of prostate cancer development in more than 25% of patients.

Finasteride, an active ingredient of the drug, is classified as a chemical inhibitor, which blocks dihydrotestosterone production and testosterone conversion into this hormone. The chemical serves as the main trigger for numerous health problems and their rapid aggravation, especially:

  • Male-pattern baldness;
  • Prostate cancer;
  • Prostate enlargement.

Despite the positive influence the medication triggers on the health of a patient, it can mask certain effects and symptoms of prostate cancer, which will make detecting and diagnosing the disorder more complicated.

Common Misconceptions Related to Propecia as Prostate Cancer Treatment

Generally, Propecia is appreciated as an effective and potential prostate cancer treatment, even though it requires thorough doctor’s supervision. The composition of the drug interferes with PSA ranges, balancing the disorder. Irrespective of its positive influences, a considerable number of patients are rather critical about Propecia as a cancer treatment. There are several reasons for this, including the following:

  • Advance in high-grade disease, which was noticed in patients using Finasteride;
  • Risk of fatal adverse reactions is higher than the overall mortality rate as a result of prostate cancer.

Male Pattern Hair Loss and Propecia

Male pattern hair loss, which is known in the field of medicine as alopecia, is a serious condition which interferes with the normal route of hair growth. In a healthy man every hair growth from one follicle for around 3 years followed by slow shedding and appearance of new hair growing from the identical follicle. However, males diagnosed with alopecia experience the decrease of hair follicles, thinning of the hair and its rapid and reasonless falling out. One of the most dangerous consequences is a drastic reduction of the hair follicle, so the hair will not even reach the surface of the skin.

The key reason for the condition development is the process of testosterone conversion into dihydrotestosterone. The hormone triggers this unwanted process and results in the condition aggravation. A bulk of alopecia treatments are aimed at blockage of the mentioned process. Keep in mind that the hair follicle can be completely lost in case a man does not get a timely and effective treatment.

Effectiveness of the Medication

Propecia is an innovative treatment, which works blocking the formation of dihydrotestosterone. Nevertheless, due to slow hair growth, the results of the treatment course cannot be seen immediately. Instead, noticeable changes will appear after a long-term therapy. On average, 3 months are necessary to experience significant changes. According to the medical information, Propecia is an ultimately effective treatment, though the therapy may last for over several years. The cosmetic issue will become better after a single year, while the treatment of underlying reasons will take around 2-3 years.

The very important thing at this point is safety, as the result depends greatly on this factor. A patient diagnosed with alopecia should follow doctor’s prescription and other safety recommendations considering Propecia use. Otherwise, the risk of severe adverse reactions and dangerous influences on other body functions is possible.

Hair Regrowth with Propecia

Considering the question of Propecia effectiveness, it is important to mention that the treatment helps stop male hair loss. However, another inevitable feature of the drug is an ability to regrow the hair you lost. The results of a recent 2-year research show the following:

  • 5% of males experienced excellent improvements;
  • 31% of patients had moderate improvements;
  • 30% of people noticed only slight changes.

Anyway, the statistics prove that the drug remains effective in 99% of instances, though the power of the produced effects may vary. Propecia shows ultimate results on the vertex and the back of the scalp with around 65% of men experiencing considerable hair regrowth within 2 years of the therapy. As for the anterior mid-scalp area, Finasteride cannot promote that excellent effect, though still, around 40% of people had the symptoms of hair regrowth. Consequently, Propecia is an appreciated alopecia treatment, which works not only blocking the process of hair loss but advancing the desired hair regrowth.