There are just two major medicines that men use to prevent and treat hair loss. One is Rogaine, the other is Propecia. These are the only male patter hair loss treatments approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for use. They are also the only medicines that have delivered any effects for preventing and treating baldness.

Finasteride was initially introduced for the treatment of prostate conditions under the name Proscar in 5mg pills. But a subsequent research showed that a 1mg daily dose of the same drug was sufficient to control hair loss for 83% of men after two years of treatment. Since 1998 this drug has been marketed under the brand name Propecia and it remains the only FDA approved prescription drug for treatment of hair loss. This drug is to be used only by men because of the dangers finasteride presents to unborn male fetuses.

Propecia, also known as finasteride, is the first oral medication approved by the FDA for treating and preventing male pattern hair loss. Almost all studies show that the medicine delivers beneficial results for the majority of users. Numbers indicate that around eighty percent of Propecia users experience a stop in hair loss and in a significant number of cases, hair loss was not only prevented, but also was reversed – Propecia actually caused hair to grow back.

Today there are only two hair loss treatments that have been clinically proven to deliver any real effects. These two medications are Propecia and Rogaine. Propecia is a pill taken once a day, while Rogaine is a liquid to be applied to the scalp twice a day. Both Propecia and Rogaine imply continued use to become and remain efficacious. If the treatment is stopped, any hair grown will gradually be lost within 6 to 12 months.

Different clinical studies on different types of male pattern hair loss have proved that almost 70 per cent of all men taking Propecia have actually regrown their hair. The positive side of Propecia as a hair loss pill is that the people taking this medicine have increased their hair count and reached a maximum after two years of taking the drug. On the other hand this hair loss medication is strictly prohibited for use by women, especially those pregnant, nor are they to come in contact with broken or crushed capsule.