- Propecia is a well-known drug prescribed to treat hair loss in men. The active ingredient is a drug called Finasteride that can be taken in 5 mg doses, but may induce some unsettling side effects including sexual dysfunction. Given the seriousness of sexual side effects, a more careful evaluation of Propecia is necessary to understand the risks involved.
- A two-year study was conducted to track the impact of Propecia on hair loss in approximately 1,550 men while carefully monitoring any and all side effects. The clinical trial was conducted in a double-blind manner in which some patients received a placebo rather than the active Propecia pills to serve as a reference group.
- The study found that 3.8% of the men taking Propecia reported some form of sexual side effects, while 2.1% of the men receiving the placebo reported the same problems. A larger test group is needed to determine if this margin is statistically significant. In the meantime, the reported side effects were categorized and less than 2% of men reported each of the following:
- 1. A decrease in sexual desire
- 2. Inability to achieve or maintain an erection
- 3. Noticeable decrease in the volume of semen ejaculated
- Note that all of these side effects were reversible, and disappeared within one month of discontinuing Propecia usage. Unfortunately, there are no benefits from a temporary or short-lived Propecia prescription.
- If a man stops taking Propecia, he risks losing hair that the drug has already helped to re-grow. The drug must be taken continually to see continued hair growth and maintain thickness. Side effects are generally experienced within the first two weeks of starting Propecia, but three to six months of daily use are required for significant hair re-growth. Due to these timelines, the decision to discontinue drug usage due to side effects would likely be made well before any hair had re-grown.
- While the sexual side effects seem the most alarming to patients, Propecia can affect your health in other serious ways. Propecia works by altering hormone levels, so a small number of men report some tenderness in their breasts. Propecia can also affect the patient’s prostate specific antigen levels, which will be recording during any routine screening for prostate cancer. While it is uncertain whether or not long-term usage of Propecia can lower the risk of prostate cancer, it will interfere with the detection of prostate cancer.
- The immediate side effects of Propecia and the impact on patient health are well understood. Side effects are reasonably mild, and their reversible nature leaves little cause for alarm – which is probably why so many men are willing to try the drug. However, FDA approval does not ensure safety from long-term effects.
- As young men turn to Propecia to combat baldness, they rely on this daily medication for many years. With FDA approval releasing Propecia into the market just 12 years ago, it is uncertain what kind of health effects will arise in men who take the drug continually for a decade or longer, and they may find that the consequences outweigh the benefits in the near future.