subject: Should I Begin Hair Loss Medication? [print this page] Fortunately, we live in a time when there are proven hair-growth medications available. However, many men are unsure about when or whether to begin hair loss medication. Here are some guidelines on making this important decision.
First, hair loss medication is only intended for patients over the age of 18. A good number of men begin to detect signs of hair loss in their late teens, but it is important to remember that the medications are not intended to be used by minors.
There are side effects to consider. In the case of minoxidil, the side effects are most likely to include itching and dandruff, but they can also include dizziness and heart palpitations. With finasteride, the side effects can be much more severe. Finasteride is linked to decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and male breast enlargement. Finasteride is rated pregnancy category x, which means that it causes severe birth defects and should never be handled by pregnant women or women who may become pregnant. Most alarmingly, there is a chance that the sexual side effects from finasteride may be permanentlasting even after the medication is stopped.
The manufacturers of both minoxidil and finasteride recommend that treatment with the medication is started as early as possible. There is some evidence that although the medications can cause new hair growth in some patients, the medications are most effective at preventing hair loss. The adage prevention is easier than the cure seems to apply.
Any patient who is considering beginning hair loss medication should know that the medications will cost from $30 to over $100 each month. Whatever hair is retained or grown as a result of the medication will be lost as soon as the medication is stopped.
However, all of the negatives aside, thousands of men have achieved success with minoxidil or finasteride. The medications offer you a chance to hold on to a youthful head of hair!
