A popular baldness drug manufactured by Merck & Co Inc called Finasteride, better know as Propecia, can mask an important marker used to detect prostate cancer. High levels of the PSA in the blood can signal prostate cancer or other problems such as an enlarged prostate.

Propecia has been shown in a study to artificially lower the prostate specific antigen (PSA). Dr. Anthony D'Amico, the lead author of the study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, recommends middle-aged men taking Propecia to have their PSA levels multiplied by two to account for the difference. He says, "The main finding is that this drug called Propecia, which men use for hair loss typically between the ages of 30-60, affects the PSA levels".

Merck said in a statement that information has been included for customers on the label since the product was first introduced in 1997. It advises patients who undergo serum PSA tests to tell their doctor if they are taking Propecia.

It may be on the label but I hope our doctors are aware of this. Are they asking the patients if they are using Propecia? I'm sure there are plenty of men who have not read the fine print and don't mention this information to their physicians.

Prescription drugs purchased online from Canadian pharmacies were intercepted before they reached the US, and after preliminary laboratory tests were found to be counterfeit. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers who may have obtained prescription drugs from Mediplan Prescription Plus Pharmacy or Mediplan Global Health in Manitoba, Canada not to take the medication as it may not be safe.

The drugs in question are Lipitor, Diovan, Actonel, Nexium, Hyzaar, Ezetrol or Zetia, Crestor, Celebrex, Arimidex, and Propecia. Most of the drugs are prescribed for cholesterol disorders and high blood pressure; Actonel for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women; Nexium for gastroesophageal reflux disease; Celebrex for arthritis-related pain; Propecia for male-pattern baldness and Arimidex is a breast cancer chemoprevention medication.

Interestingly, the FDA conducted an investigation last year and discovered that nearly half of the imported drugs they confiscated from four selected countries were shipped to fill orders that consumers believed they were placing with Canadian pharmacies. The drugs did not come from Canada. According to the FDA, 85 percent actually came from 27 other countries around the globe. Buyer beware.