Day: January 1, 2023

can propecia effect facial hair growth? Is it all right to take a detoxifier and vitamins while taking propecia?

Propecia has not been linked with facial hair growth although in theory, as DHT is one of the causes for bringing on facial hair, there may be a link.

By Dr. Jae Pak

For the first time ever when I ejaculated I noticed it has a strange yellow discoloration. Can this be a side effect of propecia? If so, should I quit taking it or lower my dosage?

Some people report that the quantity of the ejaculate is less when taking Propecia. Maybe the reduced volume is responsible for the change in color. The reports on the quality (potency)of the sperm indicate that is just as effective at lower quantities. Taking a lower dose pf Propecia makes no sense if you want the full benefit of the drug, but unofficial reports indicate that half the dose (1/2 mg) will be 80% as effective. Since you are concerned, I’d suggest paying a visit to the prescribing doctor to find out what he/she recommends.

I appreciate all the information you provide. I am a 30 year old male. It is my understanding from the blog that you believe Propecia to be the most effective pharmaceutical treatment option for hair loss. What advice would you give to a patient who has islet-cell antibodies present in their system? In other words, how would you characterize the risk that taking Propecia would prompt an auto-immune response by the body, thus causing an attack on the pancreas leading to Type I diabetes?

Finasteride (Propecia/Proscar) is a DHT type 2 receptor blocker which does not have any association with the pancreas, therefore I would expect that it should not lead to Type I diabetes. The drug company (Merck) would have recognized any such association if it would have been detected and considering the number of diabetics in the general population, I would expect that such an association (if it existed) would have been reported. Finasteride was originally developed for benign prostatic hypertrophy (which affects the prostate). If you are experiencing genetic androgenic hair loss (male pattern hair loss) Propecia may be a consideration. Propecia, as you probably know, is a prescription medication, so discuss these concerns with your prescribing doctor before taking it.

Dear Doctor.
I am a 34 year old male with slightly receding temples and full hair on the rest of my head who has been taking 1mg Propecia daily for almost exactly 4 years with good results (no regrowth but no extra balding). Over the last year I had 2 blood tests that have shown an increased level of creatinine (not creatine). I mentioned to my GP this could be from propecia use. He suggested I quit the drug for 2 weeks and have another blood test to see if there are any changes. So I have two questions for you:

1: are you aware of any increase in creatinine in the blood from propecia use?

2: will quitting for 2 weeks affect my hair loss/growth

Many thanks in advance.

Stopping Propecia for 2 weeks should not impact your hair loss/growth significantly, if at all.

In general, elevated levels of creatinine is a non-specific measurement of the state of your kidney function. It is VERY important that you follow up with your doctor for this. You may have other serious medical issues unrelated to Propecia, since Propecia is a drug that is metabolized primarily by your liver (not kidney). I would not expect Propecia to affect your kidney function or creatinine levels.

can propecia cause constipation? thanks

This side effect is not published anywhere, so I would doubt a connection. You should look to other causes.

I had a casual conversation with a dermatologist recently, who suggested that taking Propecia in the morning might not be the best idea given I drink around 4 (on rare occasion 5) cups of coffee every morning. The dermatologist said that, generally speaking coffee/tea reduces the absorption effectiveness of finasteride and many other drugs.

Otherwise, he stated that mornings are generally a good time to take medication. He further suggested that 1-2 cups of coffee would be less problematic. Any thoughts on this suggestion?

There are some suggestions I’ve read about on the web that point to some decreased absorption with coffee or alcohol because of the increased frequency of urination… but there’s no certain connection that I know of between drinking coffee and Propecia absorption. You should be fine with the coffee, but grapefruits have been shown to decrease finasteride’s absorption.

I’m about to start taking Propecia, but I’m currently taking fat burners called Clenbuterol

Will it be ok to take both at the same time?

Many thanks

I have not found anything that suggests a problem mixing these two drugs, but I know very little about clenbuterol other than its use in breathing disorders (chronic asthma) and as an enhancement drug for athletic competitors. You need to do your research and possibly speak with the doctor who is prescribing your Propecia.

What about propecia’s safety? The cancer study along with altering hormone levels just doesnt sound like a good idea. What do you think about starting propecia in your 20’s and altering hormone levels for say 15 years?

Finasteride (5 mg dose of the same drug as Propecia) was first used to treat prostate enlargement and cancer. There have been many studies through the years about this product which demonstrated its safety in the older male population (over 50). I have not seen any dangerous effect in my practice and the drug is carefully monitored by the drug company (Merck) under FDA guidelines. There is no doubt from recent articles published in the past few years that Finasteride in 5mg doses taken daily, reduces the risk of Prostate cancer. There is no suggestion that the slight rise in testosterone that occurs in many people will increase any particular cancer risk.

Hi Doc,

You are an impressive personality, I have been reading and making my decisions about my hair loss through the research on your website.

My wife is pregnant and and I want to start taking propecia, I am thinking about start taking it after the baby is born which is due on mid Nov. But I would like to know if breast feeding and propecia can create complications to the baby or wife. I think I am a norwood class 4 and have almost good coverage, I am 25 year old male.

Your reply would be a great help.

Keep up the great work.

Nope. Unless you have found a way to create milk from your own breast and are breastfeeding your baby, there is no danger to your wife and your baby as Propecia does not come over to the woman from sexual intercourse. It is not known if Propecia can be found in the breast milk of mothers that are taking Propecia themselves, but Propecia is not approved for use in women anyway. It will not affect your wife or unborn child even if you are having intercourse with your wife while she is pregnant. The pharmaceutical company Merck’s statement on this is, “Available data indicate that the level of PROPECIA in the semen of a man taking PROPECIA does not pose a risk to an unborn child. Accordingly, a man can take PROPECIA while conceiving a child with his partner, or have sexual intercourse with his partner if she is already pregnant.”

If you are still worried, use a condom.