Expert: Michael S. Fisher, <B>Ph.D., M.D.</B> - 5/17/2005

Question
Hi,

I am Stanley Lyndon, 19, India. I started to feel my hairline rising up from like 3 years ago. I recently researched the internet and found that there are two medications which actually work for hair losses.

I found finasteride and minoxidil to be the two.

I found two variants of finasteride. 1 mg PROPECIA and 5 mg PROSCAR tablets. And, in minoxidil, I found 2% lotion and 5% lotion.

Now, I am confused about the dosage. For my age and sex (male), should I take finasteride 5 mg one tablet a day after supper? [But, somewhere I saw that Proscar is for shrinking the prostrate! So, would this 5mg become a overdose for me, and cause shrinking of my prostrate, or something like that?] If taking 1mg tablets, how many per day should I take for best effect with least side effects, and when all should I take them?

Also, about minoxidil, there won't be any problems taking 5% right? But, I read somewhere that minoxidil is only effective for top-most edge of the head and not effective for the hair just above forehead? Is that true? My hair is balding like 3 inches above the point between my 2 eyebrows, and about 4.5 inches above each temple. So, should I use the lotion? It's pretty expensive here too!

Please help me. I would be eagerly waiting for your reply. (I have no other medical complaints).

Answer
The correct dose of finasteride (propecia) is 1mg per day.  Thus, if you get proscar,5mg, you would cut the tablet into five equal portions and take one portion per day.  Minoxidil is a topical medication for hair loss and you would use the 5% solution as it is the strongest. Now some men use both the finasteride and the minoxidil.