| How PROPECIA®
(finasteride) Works |
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| PROPECIA, a once-a-day
pill, is a specific inhibitor of type II 5 alpha-reductase
that lowers dihydrotestosterone (DHT) |
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PROPECIA specifically
inhibits the enzyme type II 5 alpha-reductase to decrease
serum and scalp DHT. (The relative contributions of these
reductions to the treatment effect of PROPECIA have not been
defined.) |
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PROPECIA lowers DHT. Lowering
DHT appears to: |
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Inhibit the further
miniaturization of affected hair follicles. |
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Help restore miniaturized
hair follicles to regrow visible hair. |
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In a clinical study, PROPECIA
did not appear to affect hair growth on other parts of the
body. |
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Important Information About PROPECIA
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PROPECIA is the
first and only FDA-approved oral treatment for male pattern
hair loss in MEN ONLY. Safety and efficacy
were established in men, aged 18 to 41, with mild to moderate
hair loss of the vertex and anterior mid-scalp area. Efficacy
in bitemporal recession has not been established. PROPECIA is
not indicated in women or children. |
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No dosage
adjustments needed, regardless of age or renal function.
Caution should be used in patients with liver function
abnormalities, as finasteride is metabolized extensively in
the liver. |
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No drug
interactions of clinical importance have been identified. |
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Compounds that have been
tested in men include antipyrine, digoxin, propranolol,
theophylline, and warfarin, and no interactions were found. |
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In men older than
41 undergoing a PSA test while taking PROPECIA, consideration
should be given to doubling the PSA level. In men younger than
40, PSA is not routinely measured. In clinical studies with
PROPECIA in men 18 to 41 years of age, the mean value of serum
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decreased from 0.7 ng/mL at
baseline to 0.5 ng/mL at Month 12. When finasteride is used in
older men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), PSA
levels are decreased by approximately 50%. |
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