While trying to find the most appropriate hair loss medicine, using the FDA approval as a starting point can help you narrow down the search. These are federally tested drugs. As of now the FDA has approved of only two drugs Rogaine and Propecia. However, there are others like Ditasteride and Prednisone that are highly recommended and are currently awaiting government sanction.
Rogaine
Also known as Minoxidil, this drug was initially developed to treat high blood pressure. But finding that it was responsible for the rapid improvement in the quality and the growth of hair, the FDA approved its use as a hair loss medicine. You can apply Rogaine as a lotion or use it as a spray on your scalp about twice a day. Easily available at all chemist stores, it doesn’t require a prescription and can be used by both men and women.
Rogaine stops hair loss as well as induces a small amount of hair growth with tangible results within a few weeks of use. Its side effects include skin irritation and dandruff as well as excessive facial hair growth in women. Other than these, it is relatively safe. But get your doctor’s advice before starting the prescribed course, especially if you are taking other heart and blood pressure medication. Lastly and most importantly, keep in mind that once you start taking Rogaine, you will have to continue the medication for a lifetime. Stopping its ingestion causes the hair fall to start again and within six months almost all traces of progress disappear.
Propecia
Also called Finasteride, this hair loss medicine reduces the effects of the enzyme Di-hydro testosterone (DHT), one of the most frequent causes of baldness in men. This drug was initially developed to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy before its contribution to hair growth was discovered. It is available at all chemist stores. However, it is only issued on prescription because of the number of restrictions involved in its usage. Propecia works specifically for mild to moderate hair loss on the top of the head and the middle front region, and usually in men who have been losing hair for only a few years. It should not be used by women and children, and in fact pregnant women should not even come in contact with the medicine, as there is a possibility that it might affect the sex organs of the unborn male child. A small percentage of the men who take this medication have experienced a drop in their libido and erectile dysfunction. However, these are short-lived problems that disappear when the drug is stopped. The results of this drug can be seen within the first three months. But just like in the case of Rogaine, if you stop taking Propecia, you will reverse the hair growth you have gained.
While it may seem that the restrictions and dangers of using FDA approved hair loss medicines are more than their benefits, they do work in a faster and safer way than most of the other non-approved allopathic or natural medicines. But if a lifetime of dependence on these is not to your fancy, then you might want to experiment with some of the natural remedies available.