Treats enlarged prostate in men, and also slows hair loss in male pattern baldness
Brand Names:
Proscar, Propecia
Contraindications:
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to finasteride. Women and children should not take finasteride. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid handling crushed or broken finasteride tablets
Uses:
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to.
You may take this medicine with or without food.
For hair loss, you may need to take this medicine for 3 months or longer before you notice improvement.
If a dose is missed:
If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, skip the missed dose and take your next regular dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Storage:
Store the medicine at room temperature in a closed container, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and never share your medicine with anyone.
Special precautions:
Before taking, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart failure or liver disease. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking, call your doctor
Warnings:
Make sure your doctor knows if you have liver disease or problems urinating.
This medicine may cause a decrease in the amount of sperm you ejaculate during sex.
If you are tested for prostate cancer using a blood test called PSA (prostate-specific antigen), tell the doctor that you are taking finasteride. This medicine can affect the test results, especially if you are over 41 years of age.
Once you stop using this medicine for hair loss, any improvement will probably be reversed within 12 months.
Side Effects:
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in face or lips, swelling or tingling in the mouth or throat, tightness in chest, trouble breathing
Pain in the testicles
Breast swelling or tenderness
Loss of interest in sex or ability to have sex (impotence)
