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 Dr. Alan J. Bauman is the Founder, Medical Director and Chief Surgeon of the Bauman Medical Group, P.A. located in Wharfside at Boca Pointe in Boca Raton, Florida. His practice is dedicated exclusively to treating male and female pattern hair loss. Dr. Bauman uses state-of-the-art medical and surgical techniques to help his patients maintain and/or restore their scalp hair.
Joe
2004-11-22
Propecia(finasteride) long long term effects
I was curious as to what the effects of propecia might be more than 5 years after taking it. If no better treatment comes along and I use this for say 7 or 8 years what will happen to my hair and are more serious effects like some type of cancer possible? Do we know what DHT will do really long term? 5+ years.
Thanks for your help and time
The only research I can point you to are the studies done on people who are born with a deficiency in 5-alpha-reductase (the enzyme that converts testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone). This is the condition that finasteride(propecia) mimicks when you take it daily. These men who are deficient in 5-AR have very low DHT levels, and they never go bald. BTW, they also have normal sexual functioning and reproductive capability after puberty. So, what we know is that Propecia drops the DHT levels (reversing, preventing or slowing hair loss) and there has never been a case where the DHT levels rose again while the patients were taking it. There are no adverse effects like cancer or liver problems with long-term 1mg finasteride use. In fact, physicians use 5mg (Proscar) to treat men on a long term basis who have enlarged prostates (who are ususally much older). Propecia is safe, effective medication to prevent hair loss. It is safe for the long-term. That is what it was designed for.
Regards,
Dr. B.
doctorb@baumanmedical.com
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