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Propecia Now Available In Canada For Male Pattern Hair Loss MONTREAL, QC -- July 2, 1998 -- The Health Protection Branch of Health Canada has approved Merck Frosst’s Propecia (finasteride 1 mg), a pill for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Results of two-year long clinical trials involving 1,879 patients with male pattern hair loss, showed that Propecia stops hair loss in 83 per cent of men and stimulates hair growth in 66 per cent of subjects. Trials for Propecia were conducted in several countries, including four centres in Canada. In the early 70s, scientists discovered that the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase regulates the production of a derivative of testosterone, called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a powerful hormone which shrinks hair follicles and eventually leads to hair loss. Propecia works by stopping the action of the enzyme responsible for the transformation of testosterone into DHT. Male pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in men. Typically, the hairline recedes to eventually form a M pattern on top of the head. It affects approximately 70 per cent of all men at some point in their life. Some men will start showing signs of MPHL in their early twenties and nearly 40 per cent of men will experience MPHL by the age of 35. Male pattern hair loss is thought to be triggered by a combination of heredity and DHT. Men with MPHL have hair follicles in the balding area of their scalp that are sensitive to DHT. Propecia is taken once daily. It can be taken with or without food at any time of the day. Propecia is available only by prescription. The drug cannot be prescribed to women or children. In clinical trials, Propecia was well-tolerated by 98 per cent of patients. Less than two per cent reported a decrease in the amount of semen or not as much libido. More information on: Propecia, Merck E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version