Dear Doc,
I am 22 years old and I am starting to lose my hair. There is history of baldness in my family, and my older brother is bald as well. I am thinking of going on Propecia, but I am weary about committing to a drug for life. Also, my family doctor said that Propecia tends to lose its potency after five years, and after ten years people who take it end up as bald as they would be without the medication. Any thoughts?
Your doctor is wrong. For more information about this, including a good example, please see Propecia and Hair Count. Finasteride (Propecia) is a great drug to keep control of the hair loss and it is clearly protective against prostate cancer. Some doctors are just plain foolish about this drug and many patients who read the information online are far more aware than these ignorant doctors.
Ehlers – Please send me links to these long term studies you’re referencing.