Carmine

On December 22, 1997, the FDA finally approved Propecia for treating hair loss in male candidates. This approval made Propecia the first FDA approved treatment for male hair loss that comes in pill form. The basics of Propecia are as follows:

The active ingredient that is causing the hair regrowth in Propecia is finasteride. Finasteride was first approved and used in 1992 as Proscar. Proscar is a treatment used for prostate enlargement. Proscar helps suppress the formation of DHT which is the hormone thought to cause the increase in size. By treating an enlarged prostate with Proscar, the need for surgery was reduced.

There is 1 mg of finasteride in Propecia (for the purpose of hair growth) and 5 mg in Proscar (for treating prostrate enlargement). While treating patients for prostate enlargement, it was noticed that their was some regrowth of hair in areas of male pattern hair loss.

Being a little tongue in cheek. Its no comfort to know that the side effects of one treatment become the basis of treatment in another.

In further studies, 1 mg of finasteride and demonstrated hair growth in male pattern hair loss. The number of hairs (I'm not sure if it was 4 or 6 hairs, just kidding) increased in the anterior midscalp and vertex.

Patient feed back showed that there was in fact more hair regrowth with the finasteride treatment versus the sugar pill. Side effects were infrequent (it was not stated exactly what infrequent meant) and were related to sexual function.

That's fantastic! So infrequently, does that mean that I will attract more of the opposite sex and then not be able to do anything with that? I'm just saying!

Propecia has not and will not be marketed for women because it causes birth defects, and the safety and amounts needed have not been established in women.

But its o.k. apparently for us men because we are disposable and don't give birth. Any time I see a chemical that is not advised for women because it can cause birth defects, I just have to feel that male or not, there is something going on that shouldn't be.

The FDA's Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee sat down and had a chat about Propecia. The committee offered labeling suggestions in the context of an overall generally favorable discussion. Merck & Co. of West Point, Pa., produces both Proscar and Propecia.

We all know Merck & Co. track record with lawsuits. Vioxx and the osteoporosis drug Fosamax are the first that come to mind. Almost seems to make about as much sense as trusting Exxon to handle your neighborhood environmental project.

Make sure that when you start seeking treatments for hairloss and male pattern baldness that you weigh the pro's of hair regrowth with the possible health concern cons.

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If I had to choose, Id rather the state feed and clothe my children than let it educate them. -- Iowa grain dealer, Max Belz.

School security is an oxymoron. Despite what school officials might say, no one is safe in public schools. Im not talking about mad shooters. The primary attack on children comes from within the schools, not from outside, and it is constant. It comes from the poorly educated staff, the boring classes, the academic mediocrity, the distrust, the coercion, the bullying, the unfair rules and restrictions. Together, those create the culture, the climate of frustration and anger. In turn, that causes some people to commit the violence -- often extreme. Public school makes everyone its victim. Consider the following:

1. Violence is an ever-present possibility. Bullying is a natural result when humans are trapped against their wills. Anyone serious about doing harm cannot not be stopped. Also, the more schools become armed fortresses, the less educational they are.

2. Civil rights? In public schools, there are none, either for children or their parents. Federal District Judge Melinda Harmon ruled, When you drop your kids off at Public School, you lose your civil rights.

3. Freedom from coercion? Are you kidding? Coercion is the bread and butter of government school. We hear from some school employees that schools are democratic, and yet any teacher or parent will tell you from experience that they are petty and dictatorial.

4. Freedom from verbal assault? Sorry. Taunting and harassment are part of public school's pecking order -- the result of forcing people together into ugly impersonal, insensitive institutions.

5. Academic security? Ha! Look at the records of any state. Only about thirty percent of students are even at grade level according to state standardized tests. There are no goals or academic standards whatsoever. The basic skills are virtually ignored. Dumbing down appears to be the guiding principle.

6. Emotional safety? Students are at the mercy of psychological conditioning and peer-group therapy. The curriculum is designed as a feel-good exercise, not a learning path. The children know they are being cheated. The parents are being conned.

7. Drug-Free Zone? The schools recommend Ritalin and other mind-altering drugs to kids who are anxious, stressed and bored, even for the very young. Who would call that a safe practice? The drug companies are on an aggressive program to diagnose childrens disabilities in order to sell their wares on a national scale. If the schools will drug our children for behavior, what wont they do to them?

8. Integrity? Honor? Virtue? No chance. The systems culture is corrupt, dishonest and self-serving. The employees constantly seek respect and yet, they are the ones who do not respect either the children or their parents. They are the ones who start the school wars, by violating the wishes of parents for their children.

9. Financial responsibility? Accountability? Not a chance. Management by crisis is the norm. Waste is the rule. The system uses every trick to take more money from taxpayers in order to enlarge itself. For example, smaller classes means more hiring, not better instruction.

10. Local control? Theres no such thing. Public school is a state and federal system. The local school board and the administrators are puppets of the legislature, the bureaucracy and the teachers union. There is no autonomy. There is no accountability.

There is no safety of any kind in public schools for children or their families. What permeates the schools in fact is insecurity and fear. The problem is government control. The answer is local control, possibly by establishing a "charter district." That would eliminate the teacher union and burdensome state mandates. Let anyone who can teach apply. Let teachers and parents control what goes on and most of the corruption would end. Where theres no compulsion theres no resistance. Where theres no coercion, theres no rage, and contentment increases. Happy, free and responsible people dont harm each other.

Ned Vare is co-author, of the book, SMARTING US UP; the undumbing of America ($18 to Wildrose Press, 22 Wildrose Ave., Guilford, CT 06437) He is author of many articles see http://www.borntoexplore.org/unschool and two other books. Vare may be reached at TheSchoolWars@mac.com