The First 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor
Finasteride, the main ingredient in Propecia, is considered to be an inhibitor of an enzyme known as 5 alpha-reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone to DHT. DHT is the main cause of male pattern baldness. By inhibiting the production of DHT, further hair loss can be prevented.
Finasteride is the first 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor that is made available for consumption by the general population. Propecia has been approved, by the Food and Drug Administration, for men to use as a treatment for hair loss. Finasteride is effective when it is absorbed through oral administration.
Men, who take once-a-day oral Propecia, most often take a one milligram dose twice a day. It is up to your physician to recommend what Propecia dose to take. Men, who take five milligrams of Finasteride a day, have noticed that this dosage inhibits prostate enlargement.
Finasteride holds promise in treating other disorders that are DHT-mediated, such as prostate cancer, acne, frontal lobe alopecia, and facial hirsutism. It has not been approved to treat these medical conditions yet, but is still in the final stages of investigation.
There have been no reported overdoses of men that take finasteride on a regular basis. In fact, a does of eighty milligrams a day, taken for three months showed no adverse side effects.
The future use of finasteride looks very promising. In the future, finasteride may be used to treat many medical conditions. For now, men suffering from male pattern baldness can benefit from using Propecia, whose main ingredient is finasteride.