Finasteride

The recommended adult dose of finasteride is 5 mg once daily, taken with or without food.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Finasteride exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Finasteride at room temperature. Protect it from light and keep it out of the reach of children. Women who are or may become pregnant should not handle crushed or broken tablets of Finasteride.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: occasionally, it may cause breast development in men; it may lower your sex drive (libido); it can affect ejaculation; it may cause difficulty with erection; it may lower your blood pressure, which could cause weakness and/or dizziness - use caution when getting up from a lying or sitting position and when driving. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

Each blue, round biconvex, film-coated tablet, debossed with "FS" on one side and "5" on other side contains 5 mg of finasteride. Nonmedicinal ingredients: Coloring agent (FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, talc, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide), Docusate Sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH 102), pregelatinised starch, and sodium starch glycolate.

Finasteride (for BPH) should not be taken by anyone who:

• is allergic to finasteride or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• is a child
• is a woman

Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. In many cases, interactions are intended or are managed by close monitoring. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Finasteride.

Breast Cancer: Male breast cancer has been reported in a small number of people taking finasteride. It is not known with certainty whether finasteride can cause breast cancer, but this possibility cannot be ruled out at this time. If you notice any changes in your breasts, such as breast enlargement, pain, tenderness, lumps, or nipple discharge, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Laboratory tests: Finasteride may decrease PSA levels (a substance normally produced and used to evaluate Prostate Cancer) and should be taken into account when evaluating PSA levels.

Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Finasteride to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Finasteride may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Finasteride, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Long-term use: The effects of using Finasteride for the long term (i.e., more than 10 years) have not been established.

Prostate cancer: Finasteride (for BPH) may be linked with an increased risk of developing a rare type of cancer called high-grade prostate cancer. The risk of this cancer while taking Finasteride is still considered very small. Note that finasteride (for BPH) is not approved to treat prostate cancer. If you have any concerns about Finasteride, talk to your health care provider.

Surgery: People who are candidates for immediate prostate surgery should not take finasteride.

Pregnancy and birth defects: When absorbed into the system of a pregnant woman, finasteride may cause abnormalities of the genitals in a male baby. Crushed or broken finasteride tablets should not be handled by women who are or may become pregnant because finasteride may be absorbed into their system through the skin.

Children: Finasteride should not be used by children.

Finasteride belongs to a group of medications known as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Finasteride is used to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate. Finasteride can be used alone or in combination with another medication called Doxazosin (an alpha blocker). These medications may be taken together to reduce the progress of your BPH symptoms. Finasteride improves the symptoms associated with BPH, such as decreased urine flow, difficulty urinating, getting up to urinate during the night, or hesitation at the start of urination. It may take 6 months or more to see the full effects of finasteride. Finasteride reduces the likelihood of prostate surgery for men with BPH. Finasteride must be taken on a regular basis to be effective. If the medication is stopped, the prostate will start to grow again.

Finasteride may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Finasteride may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Finasteride may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Finasteride for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Finasteride, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Finasteride without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Finasteride to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Finasteride if their doctor has not prescribed it.