Today you can meet a large number of young men who are clearly visible bald patches. This is a serious problem, as it is fraught with a decrease in self-esteem. People frantically begin to look for a solution, and modern pharmacology offers ever new options. One of the most popular products today is the drug Finasteride. Reviews of men about him are quite varied, today we will try to figure out how effective and safe this remedy is. Bald patches on the head add age, negatively affect the appearance and overall image, which means this is a problem that needs to be addressed.
Causes of baldness
There can be a lot of them. Hair can fall out due to lack of certain vitamins and minerals, severe stress. Serious diseases and the use of potent drugs, alcohol abuse and smoking - all this negatively affects the health and beauty of your hair. But today we are talking about focal prolapse, when a bald spot forms in the place of luxurious hair. The reason for such metamorphoses most often lies in a change in the hormonal background. It is for the treatment of such conditions that the drug "Finasteride" is used. Reviews of men indicate the high effectiveness of this tool. But it is worth cautioning those who want to solve hair problems with this drug: it can only be used as prescribed by a doctor, because it is a hormonal drug.
Women are especially sensitive to their hair, but we hasten to warn: this drug does not solve many problems that contribute to hair loss in the fair sex.
pharmachologic effect
Today we are considering the drug Finasteride. Reviews of men can confuse the reader a little, as they mainly relate to the treatment of prostate hyperplasia . This is not too surprising if you look at the market for drugs for the treatment of baldness in general. All of them were originally made for completely different purposes, but in the course of research, scientists found such a side effect as improving hair growth. The first drug, which at the time of research was recognized as a cure for baldness, was Finasteride. Reviews of men rightly point to a steady, though not too fast, onset of effect. On average, researchers call the figure 12 months. This is the period in which healthy hair is sure to appear.
The medicine for the treatment of baldness and prostate gland
Today, the most famous anti-alopecia drug is Finasteride. For hair, this is really a stunningly effective tool, provided that the cause of their loss lies in the area of hormonal imbalance. The first country to recognize the drug as the # 1 drug in the fight against androgenetic alopecia is the United States. More research and clinical trials have been conducted here. During their implementation, the scope of the drug expanded from the treatment of an enlarged prostate in men to purely cosmetic problems. Clinical studies have shown how effective Finasteride is for hair. Its use provokes their growth on the head and a change in the state of the hairline. The hairs themselves become stronger and more rigid. After the course of treatment, supportive therapy is necessary to maintain the achieved result.
Finasteride is gaining popularity
Since about 1977 in the USA, and then in Europe, the drug “Finasteride” began to be actively used. Analogs began to appear much later, a little lower we will devote time to them. At the same time, the stable relationship of violations in the work of the prostate gland and the problem of baldness was repeatedly emphasized. The drug allows you to solve both problems at the same time, assists in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, is able to reduce the size of the enlarged gland, improve the outflow of urine and reduce the risk of acute delay.
But even more often use the drug "Finasteride" for baldness. The reviews, analyzed by dozens of doctors, allow us to say that people who took it for a year achieve their task. At the same time, experts draw your attention to the fact that if after 12 months the hairline has not started to recover, continuing to take the drug does not make much sense. It is necessary to undergo an examination again and adjust the direction of therapy. But at the same time it should be noted that the results are impressive. In 90% of men treated with the drug Finasteride, the loss stopped and the hairline began to grow.
During the treatment period, the number of bald patches is significantly reduced or they completely disappear. Moreover, the Finasteride medicine has the most positive effect on the structure of the hair. They become smoother and more beautiful.
A bit about therapy
It is not possible to achieve quick results with this tool. The course of treatment of the prostate gland usually takes from 5 months, while the problem of baldness can persist much longer. In some cases, it is recommended to take the drug for several years. The drug is most often prescribed in tablet form and taken orally. There is also Finasteride - lotion, reviews of which are also good. Apply it also to the scalp, approximately 1 ml (6-8 clicks) twice a day. The drug is easily absorbed and penetrates the tissues and body fluids. The drug has a high level of bioavailability. It begins to act almost instantly, reaching its maximum effect in about two hours after application. Decay products are excreted by the kidneys and liver, while metabolites do not affect the functioning of the organs themselves.
It is generally accepted that visible improvements will begin to appear about 3-4 months after the start of treatment, but in order for the result to be stable, it is necessary to use the drug from six months to several years, at the discretion of the attending physician. In this case, the dosage should also be prescribed by a doctor, under close monitoring it can be significantly increased for a certain period.
The patient's well-being during therapy
The drug "Finasteride" is not always 100% well tolerated. Instructions, reviews of former and current patients warn of changes such as a weakening of libido. That is, a healthy man may have a natural craving for the opposite sex, signs of impotence and a weakening of sexual desire will appear. This is a natural reaction of the body to treatment with hormonal drugs, at the end of the course, the condition will slowly return to normal.
Side effects
Their list is quite extensive, which is confirmed by clinical studies, but in some cases, the appointment of the drug “Finasteride” for hair is still considered reasonable. Reviews speak of allergic reactions and itchy skin, also among the side effects - urticaria, hypersensitivity of the nipples of the chest.
Patients, describing their condition, often complain of drowsiness. This is another unpleasant moment that the doctor should warn about. This is due to the indirect effect of the drug on the central nervous system. In certain cases, the development of swelling on the face and body is noted. Be sure to inform your doctor! If he has not done a kidney test before, he will do it now.
In general, clinical studies say that the drug can be used for various degrees of renal failure. The usual dosage, 5 mg, is suitable for almost everyone, but if the condition worsens and severe swelling occurs, the doctor should decide whether to continue treatment. It is advisable to undergo a comprehensive examination, including rectal, for the presence of prostate cancer before treatment.
Is this remedy intended only for men?
Why is the product targeted at men and can Finasteride be used for women? Reviews suggest that in the struggle for long and beautiful hair, the fair sex has repeatedly tried to find salvation in this new drug. However, initially it is not aimed at women. Only if the doctor, having examined and examined your endocrine system, diagnoses “male pattern baldness”, its use will be justified. Most often, baldness in women has other reasons, so you can’t take the drug on your own. It is especially dangerous during pregnancy, as it causes serious fetal malformations. In any case, you can not self-medicate and use Finasteride for women. Reviews do not contain any evidence of the effectiveness of such therapy, but health problems can be found quite a lot.
Health status and duration of therapy
In no case should the drug be prescribed to children. Any hormone therapy for babies is dangerous. In addition, the doctor must determine the safe duration of therapy for each individual patient. To do this, he needs to collect information about the age and diseases of the patient undergoing operations. It is very important to learn as much as possible about what drugs a person takes. Any of them can worsen or slow down the effectiveness of therapy with Finasteride. Analogues of this drug act in exactly the same way, which means that they require approaching the issue of their purpose with no less responsibility.
Analogs
There are quite a few generics on the market today. These are drugs created on the basis of clinical studies that were carried out during the development of the original drug. That is why they are very different in price, that is, they are more profitable, but no less effective. One of the most popular is the generic "Propecia". This is a drug for the treatment of hereditary male pattern baldness. Outwardly, it represents pathological hair loss in the frontal and parietal lobes. The reason for this is quite specific - the increased content of the active form of testosterone in the blood. This leads to malnutrition, thinning and subsequent hair loss. Other analogues of the drug are Alfinal, Penester, Proscar, Prosteride.
How long does the effect last?
Indeed, the reviews received from men who took Finasteride-Teva mostly show good results. Regardless of the area of baldness, a new hairline gradually begins to grow. Accordingly, the question arises of how long this effect will be. Unfortunately, the drug can give a full cure only if baldness is directly associated with impaired prostate function. Then both problems are solved simultaneously.
If hair loss is a consequence of androgenetic alopecia, that is , it has a genetic predisposition to an increased content of testosterone in the blood, then treatment will give only a temporary effect. After discontinuation of the drug, the hair will begin to fall out again. The doctor may prescribe a maintenance dosage, which will need to be taken continuously.
To summarize
If you are faced with the problem of baldness, then know that there is a solution. But at the same time, you can’t start taking drugs on your own, there are professionals who, having examined, will prescribe the most suitable treatment for you. By following all the recommendations of doctors, you can avoid most of the side effects and achieve excellent results.