Very scared to take Propecia. Need help to decide.

Question

Hi, i'm a 21 years old male from The Netherlands. Because my hair is thinning I've been prescribed to use Propecia 1mg for 3 months . After doing some online research about finesteride(propecia) I'm very very scared of it's side effect pretty much as scared as going bold. I need help to decide whether I should take Propecia or not. I just don't want my life to get ruined by this drug. Hair is also just as important to me, I've read about hair transplation which seems to be more safe.

Edmond Griffin, MD · Answer

While I can certainly appreciate your concern, I believe
that your fears may be largely unfounded. All prescription medications carry at
least some risk of potentially adverse effects. Although the drug finasteride
(sold over the counter as Propecia or Proscar) has been reported, in rare
cases, to cause some sexual side effects, including decreased libido and
erectile dysfunction, ongoing scientific studies have consistently found that
the likelihood of these side effects occurring is extremely small (generally
between 2.1% and 3.8%). More importantly, long term follow-up studies have also
discovered that these side effects not only disappeared in all of the men who
stopped using the drug, but also even eventually subsided in most of those who
continued the therapy.  In short, the
chances that you will suffer these side effects is extremely low, and if you
are affected simply stopping the treatment should reverse any problems.

Conversely, if you do nothing to address your
hair loss, it will most likely continue to worsen.  Topical and oral medications to treat hair
loss generally work best when they have a chance to slow or stop progressing
hair loss in the early stages. Once the hair follicles have completely stopped
producing new hair, it is far less likely that these medications will have a
positive effect, and at that point hair transplantation surgery may be your
only available option. Moreover, it is important to remember that hair loss is
usually progressive and the vast majority of patients still need to continue
using prescription medications even after the transplantation surgery has been
performed in order to minimize future hair loss and preserve their hair
transplant results. Every patient’s hair loss is unique, and the best expert
advice will be from a doctor who has actually had the opportunity to study and
diagnose your case in person. Based only on what you have said, I would urge
you to follow the prescribed treatment plan outlined by your doctor and
carefully document any changes you may experience.

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Propecia is scientifically proven to help with hair loss however just like any other medication it does have side effects. It is better to read the side effects and if you are comfortable with them you can start using it.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

There is panic created by various individuals on the Internet (see web reference below as an example of this type of panic). I prescribed Propecia to my son. He has been taking it for 15 years now and his main complaint was an increased sex drive. There are side effects from this drug in about 2% of people so if you are one of them and don't talk yourself into it, then you simply stop the medications and the side effects go away in a couple of weeks. You don't have to take the medication but if you don't, you will not get the benefits of it.

Very scared to take Propecia. Need help to decide.

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Very scared to take Propecia. Need help to decide.

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