Propecia 1mg Tablets

Male Hair Loss Doctor Service

Propecia tablets are indicated for the treatment of men with male pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia) to increase hair growth and prevent further hair loss. Propecia is only suitable for men and should never be taken by women.

Propecia contains a medicine called finasteride. This belongs to a group of medicines called Type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. Taking just one tablet a day increases hair growth on the scalp and prevents further hair loss in men. 

How Does The Hair On Your Head Grow?

On average your hair grows about 1 centimetre (half an inch) each month. Hair grows from hair follicles, which are located under your skin.

A single scalp hair grows continuously for 2-4 years (growth phase) and then stops growing for 2-4 months (rest phase). After this the hair falls out. In its place a new healthy hair begins to grow, and the cycle is repeated. The hairs on your scalp are always in different stages of this cycle so it is normal to lose scalp hair everyday.

What Is Male Pattern Hair Loss?

Male pattern hair loss is a common condition in which men experience thinning of the hair on the scalp, often resulting in a receding hairline and/or balding on the top of the head. This condition is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic factors and a particular hormone, DHT (dihydrotestosterone).

DHT causes a decrease in the growth phase and thinning of the hair (see picture). This leads to male pattern hair loss. These changes can start to occur in some men in their 20s and become more common with age. Once hair loss has occurred over a long period of time, the hair may be permanently lost.

How Does Propecia Work?

Propecia lowers the levels of DHT in the scalp. This helps to reverse the balding process, leading to an increased hair growth and prevention of further hair loss.

Will The Use Of Propecia Affect The Hair On Other Parts Of Your Body?

Propecia does not affect hair on other parts of the body.

What Is The Difference Between Propecia and Finasteride?

They both contain the active ingredient Finasteride 1mg.

Does Propecia Work In Women With Hair Loss?

No. Propecia 1 mg Tablets are only intended for men.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some of the side effects are temporary with continued treatment or disappear when treatment is stopped.

• Do not use it, if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.

Stop taking Propecia and talk to your doctor if you experience:

• Symptoms of an allergic reaction: swelling of your lips, face, tongue and throat; difficulty swallowing; lumps under your skin (hives) and breathing difficulties. 
• Depression (feeling of severe sadness and unworthiness).
• You should promptly report to your doctor any changes in your breast tissue such as lumps, pain, enlargement or nipple discharge as these may be signs of a serious condition, such as breast cancer.

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

You may be unable to have an erection (impotence)
You may have less desire to have sex
You may have problems with ejaculation, for example a decrease in the amount of semen released during sex. This decrease in the amount of semen does not appear to affect normal sexual function

Frequency unknown:

• Breast swelling or tenderness
• Palpitations (feeling your heartbeat)
• Changes in the way your liver is working, which can be shown by a blood test
• Pain in the testicles
• Blood in semen
• Persistent difficulty having an erection after discontinuation of treatment
• Persistent decrease in sex drive after discontinuation of treatment
• Persistent problems with ejaculation after discontinuation of treatment
• Male infertility and/or poor quality of semen
• Anxiety

What else should you know about Propecia?

Finasteride can also be used for a type of prostate problem called ‘benign prostatic hyperplasia’ or BPH. Information collected from a clinical trial in men taking finasteride 5 mg (a dose 5 times higher than Propecia) for 7 years showed:

• The number of men who developed prostate cancer was lower in men taking finasteride compared with those taking nothing
• The number of men who had a high score in a tumour grading system was higher in some of those taking finasteride compared to those taking nothing
• The effect of long-term use of finasteride on tumours of this kind is unknown.
• If you would like further information about the tumour grading system or this trial, please talk to your doctor.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Propecia 1mg Film-coated Tablets

Do not take Propecia:

• If you are a woman (because this medicine is for men). It has been shown in clinical trials that Propecia does not work in women with hair loss. Do not touch crushed or broken Propecia tablets if you are a woman who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant (whole tablets are coated to stop contact with the medicine during normal use). This is because this medicine may affect the baby’s sex organs. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with crushed or broken Propecia tablets, speak to your doctor.
• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to finasteride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• If you are already taking finasteride or dutasteride used for a prostate problem called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Driving and using machines: Propecia is not likely to affect you being able to drive, use tools or machines.
Propecia contains Lactose: If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
Propecia contains sodium: This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

Before using any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Efficacy and duration of treatment should continuously be assessed by the treating physician. Generally, three to six months of once daily treatment are required before evidence of stabilisation of hair loss can be expected. Continuous use is recommended to sustain benefit.

Directions:

Efficacy and duration of treatment should continuously be assessed by the treating physician. Generally, three to six months of once daily treatment are required before evidence of stabilisation of hair loss can be expected. Continuous use is recommended to sustain benefit.

If treatment is stopped, the beneficial effects begin to reverse by six months and return to baseline by 9 to 12 months.

• There is no evidence that an increase in dosage will result in increased efficacy.

How to take Propecia:

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

• The recommended dose is one tablet each day. The tablet can be taken with or without food.

If you take more Propecia than you should:

If you take too many tablets by mistake, contact your doctor immediately. Propecia will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day.

If you forget to take Propecia:

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Propecia

It may take 3 to 6 months for the full effect to develop. It is important to keep taking Propecia for as long as your doctor tells you. If you stop taking Propecia, you are likely to lose the hair you have gained within 9 to 12 months.

Warnings and Precautions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Propecia does not usually affect other medicines.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Propecia if:

• Children and adolescents.
• You have breast cancer.
• You are going to have a blood test for prostate cancer called PSA (prostate-specific antigen). This is because Propecia can affect the result of this test.
• Effects on fertility: Infertility has been reported in men who took finasteride for a long time and had other risk factors that may affect fertility. 
• Mood alterations and depression: Mood alterations such as depressed mood, depression and, less frequently, suicidal thoughts have been reported in patients treated with Propecia. If you experience any of these symptoms stop taking Propecia and contact your doctor for further medical advice as soon as possible.

Other medicines and Propecia

Do not take Propecia if you are already taking finasteride or dutasteride, used for a prostate problem called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). No information is available about the use of Propecia with minoxidil, another type of medicine for male pattern hair loss which is applied to the head.

Propecia is only suitable for men and should never be taken by women. Propecia should not be used in children.

How to store Propecia:

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

• Do not store above 30°C. Keep them in the original package.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after the letters EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not put the tablets into another container, they might get mixed up. Do not remove the tablet from the pack until you are ready to take it.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.

Ingredients:

The active substance is finasteride. Each tablet contains 1 mg finasteride.
The other ingredients are: lactose, microcrystalline cellulose E460, pregelatinised maize starch, sodium starch glycolate, docusate sodium, magnesium stearate E572, hypromellose E464, hydroxypropyl cellulose E463, titanium dioxide, talc, yellow iron oxide E172, red iron oxide E172.
 
What Propecia looks like and the content of the pack:

Propecia is available as tan, eight-sided, film-coated tablets, marked with a ‘P’ logo on one side and PROPECIA on the other. Propecia Tablets are supplied in blister packs of 28 tablets or 84 tablets.