What are the benefits, side effects and how to take Finasteride or Propecia pills?

Finasteride was first used in medicine to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Doctors have found that hair loss in patients taking finasteride tablets decreases over time, and in some cases patients even experience hair growth. . Over time and further research, the effect of finasteride on reducing hair loss if the cause of hair loss is the increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has been proven and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Finasteride performance:

One of the causes of hair loss in men is an increase in the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, and this problem occurs in some men with age, and it is called male pattern baldness.

Finasteride inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, thereby reducing the proliferation of DHT and its damaging effect on the hair follicles.

Another effect of finasteride is the reduction of body hair, DHT hormone stimulates the growth of body hair and that is why it usually decreases with age in men but hair in other parts of the body such as ears, chest, shoulders and The back gets bigger.



The effect and side effects of finasteride:

Before examining the effects and side effects of finasteride, I need to say that I am 100% opposed to taking finasteride pills. Any medication that causes the body's hormonal system to go out of its normal state will definitely have short-term and sometimes lasting side effects. I always get a lot of reports of serious side effects that people face.

Side effects known and announced by the FDA include: decreased libido and semen volume, erectile dysfunction, skin wrinkles, dry eyes, enlarged nipples in a feminine state, etc., of course, it is said after stopping finasteride These side effects also go away. Also, a report that most doctors are aware of states that these complications are observed in a small percentage of men (about 3%).



But in my opinion, the problem does not end with these side effects alone, because the metabolism of this drug takes place in the liver and also changes the balance of some hormones. Many people who take finasteride have side effects such as fatty liver, pimples and acne. Skin discoloration, itching and skin allergies, general weakness, high cholesterol, and even mood swings are more common, especially in people who are prone to liver disease. Due to environmental, water and food pollution, many people suffer from mild to severe liver problems, which in most cases they are not even aware of.

Some doctors prescribe finasteride due to its approval by the FDA, although it should be noted that in the past, FDA-approved drugs have been removed from the list of safe drugs over time and received more reports and research. This may be the case with finasteride tablets in the years to come, but it has been used by thousands or millions of people over the years.



A 2012 warning from the FDA about finasteride pills was added to its list of side effects, such as sexual dysfunction, especially erectile dysfunction, that may continue after stopping finasteride, which some doctors seem to be unaware of. Are.

In July 2015, a study of a group of 18- to 45-year-old men who took finasteride tablets for more than a year was published in the medical journal Pharmocotherapy, showing that these men were more likely to be depressed and have Thoughts are related to suicide and these problems are probably related to chronic impotence in them.

Side effects of finasteride On the one hand, but another problem is that many doctors prescribe finasteride pills without performing the necessary examinations and only by observing hair loss in patients, and because the causes of hair loss in each person can be for different reasons and other than Increased DHT hormone With the use of finasteride pills, no change in the process of reducing hair loss occurs. The causes of hair loss in each person can be different and only a percentage of men experience hair loss due to an increase in the hormone DHT. Causes such as deficiency of minerals and vitamins, problems with the adrenal glands and thyroid, excess elements in the body such as iron and copper and anemia are other common causes of hair loss. For more information, refer to the page of causes of hair loss.

To ensure that the cause of hair loss is DHT, the amount of this hormone should first be checked through a blood test and if it increases, appropriate treatment should be prescribed.

Be sure to read: Does cutting hair or shaving the head prevent hair loss?

In addition, to reduce the destructive effects of DHT on the hair follicles, there are other side effects-free treatments, such as the use of sawdust supplements (Saw Palmetto), the use of caffeinated solutions such as Alpsin, etc.

It should be noted that the mentioned side effects are often related to finasteride 5 mg and 1 mg of it is a weak drug and does not have many side effects, however, it must be taken with a doctor's opinion.

 The effect of finasteride tablets:

A study of a group of men who took finasteride pills for 5 years was conducted by a group of doctors and researchers in 2014 and found that 48% of these men had seen a reduction in hair loss after taking finasteride, and the remaining 52% had no results. They did not get anything positive from consuming it.

It can be deduced from this report that the effect of finasteride is only when the cause of hair loss is an increase in DHT hormone, and if the cause of hair loss is other factors, it will not have an effect on treatment and should not be observed only by observing hair loss. Used it.

Other information about finasteride:

Finasteride is 100% forbidden for women, unfortunately in Iran many doctors prescribe it for women! Finasteride tablets are also absorbed through the skin and women should not touch it directly.

Even absorbing small amounts of it through the skin significantly increases the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women.

If you are going to have a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test to check for prostate cancer for cancer, be sure to tell your doctor that you are taking finasteride. Finasteride lowers PSA protein in the blood. And your experiment will be misinterpreted.