As I discussed in my last blog, Finasteride is now available in a one mg. generic doses-FDA approved. We recommend only using FDA approved Finasteride whether it be Propecia (Merck brand name) or the generic Finasteride. These drugs are manufactured under the standards of the American FDA.* Overwhelmingly my patients that have had success with Merck brand Propecia have continued that same success over the last 1.5 years after switching to the generic Finasteride. We also always recommend close monitoring of our patients so as to confirm success and limit problems.
Another concern often mentions by our patients is that is you stop this drug you will lose your hair. Let’s dispel any myths right now. Almost all drugs act to control or supplement our body functions. Very few medicines are curative. If you take blood pressure medicine, insulin, drugs to control cholesterol, thyroid medication, etc., these are only going to produce results if you take them. When a patient stops any of these medications his problem will return or persist. They do not cure the underlying problem, unlike an antibiotic that is curative and is only taken for a short time and stopped when the disease process has been stopped.
To not take a medication because it only works as long as you take it has been one of the most absurd reasons to not use Finasteride. If you brush your teeth twice a day and then stop brushing for 6 months, needless to say you will be in pretty sorry shape. Should we stop brushing just because when we stop we will lose our teeth? I hope not!
If someone takes Finasteride for 5 years and stops they will only lose the hair that they have gained by taking the medicine. In other words, they will be no worse off than if they had not taken the medication to begin with. They will not experience more hair loss than they would have, had they never taken Finasteride to begin with.
My next post will cover other treatment options such as combination therapy with minoxidil (Rogaine) and low level laser therapy (Capillus) for even better results.
*Please do not purchase so called “knock off” drugs that are not manufactured under the standards of the America FDA. Some patients who have purchased these outside drugs have experienced side effects that did not occur with the FDA approved drug. Also, some patients have also noticed that the “knock-off” drugs do not produce the same results as FDA approved products and have experienced shedding and hairloss.
Dr. Rosanelli’s office is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year and yes, 366 days in 2016. Please call Dr. Rosanelli at 1-800-843-4247 or email [email protected] anytime and we will be happy to have you as a patient.
Another concern often mentions by our patients is that is you stop this drug you will lose your hair. Let’s dispel any myths right now. Almost all drugs act to control or supplement our body functions. Very few medicines are curative. If you take blood pressure medicine, insulin, drugs to control cholesterol, thyroid medication, etc., these are only going to produce results if you take them. When a patient stops any of these medications his problem will return or persist. They do not cure the underlying problem, unlike an antibiotic that is curative and is only taken for a short time and stopped when the disease process has been stopped.
To not take a medication because it only works as long as you take it has been one of the most absurd reasons to not use Finasteride. If you brush your teeth twice a day and then stop brushing for 6 months, needless to say you will be in pretty sorry shape. Should we stop brushing just because when we stop we will lose our teeth? I hope not!
If someone takes Finasteride for 5 years and stops they will only lose the hair that they have gained by taking the medicine. In other words, they will be no worse off than if they had not taken the medication to begin with. They will not experience more hair loss than they would have, had they never taken Finasteride to begin with.
My next post will cover other treatment options such as combination therapy with minoxidil (Rogaine) and low level laser therapy (Capillus) for even better results.
*Please do not purchase so called “knock off” drugs that are not manufactured under the standards of the America FDA. Some patients who have purchased these outside drugs have experienced side effects that did not occur with the FDA approved drug. Also, some patients have also noticed that the “knock-off” drugs do not produce the same results as FDA approved products and have experienced shedding and hairloss.
Dr. Rosanelli’s office is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year and yes, 366 days in 2016. Please call Dr. Rosanelli at 1-800-843-4247 or email [email protected] anytime and we will be happy to have you as a patient.