Is The propecia bad for health?
Finasteride, marketed as Proscar, Propecia, Fincar, Finpecia,
Finax, Finast,Finara, Finalo, Prosteride, Gefina, Appecia,
Finasterid IVAX, and Finasterid Alternova, is a synthetic
antiandrogen (that is, it acts in opposition to the male hormone
testosterone). It is currently approved for treatment of Prostate
cancer, Benign prostatic hyperplasia and Hair loss in males, which
is commonly due to overproduction of testosterone.
Possible side effects include impotence, problems getting and
maintaining an erection, reduced sperm count and other sexual
problems. It is also known to cause birth defects in male children
-- even in tiny amounts -- specifically by interfering with proper
development of male genitalia. Great care should be taken to keep
it away from women who may become pregnant, even to the extent of
not cutting pills in half, etc. in the same house.
It is up to the user to decide whether use of Propecia and other
Finasteride drugs is worth the risk of possible side effects,
especially since its use for hair growth is of limited value and
simply a matter of vanity.