Finasteride

Generic Name: Finasteride
Brand Name: Proscar/Propecia

Finasteride structure
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About Finasteride

Finasteride belongs to a group of  5-alpha reductase inhibitors. Tablets containing Finasteride treat pattern hair loss in men. It helps in regrowing the receding hairline.

Finasteride treats Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) by preventing the body from producing a male hormone that enlarges the prostate. 

Finasteride Uses

Finasteride is a trusted medicine to treat hair loss in men, which is caused due to Male Pattern Baldness.

This medicine prevents the body from producing a male hormone in the scalp that inhibits hair growth, thus treating male pattern hair loss.

Finasteride is also known to treat Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). This is a common disorder occurring in older adults. An enlarged prostate might cause urinary symptoms like blocked urine flow. It causes bladder, urinary tract, and kidney issues.

How does Finasteride work

Finasteride tablets inhibit 5-alpha-reductase.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormones shrink hair follicles, causing baldness in men. It causes a receding hairline or baldness.

Finasteride acts to restrict the conversion of Testosterone to DHT. Thus, DHT levels are lowered.

Reducing DHT reverses balding and prevents additional hair loss.

Therefore, Finasteride pills emerge as an effective treatment for Male Pattern Baldness.

Finasteride is also known to treat Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). By preventing the body from producing a male hormone that enlarges the prostate, Finasteride treats BPH in men.

Finasteride Dosage

Finasteride is a prescription-based medicine. You must follow your doctor’s instructions while consuming this pill. 

You can consume this tablet of Finasteride with or without a meal.

Skipping a dose might compromise the effectiveness of the medicine.

Before starting/stopping the medicine, ask your doctor.

If you have missed the dose and it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Don’t take multiple doses.

Finasteride side effects

Tablets containing Finasteride are effective in treating hair loss in men. However, in some cases, you might face certain side effects like

  • Itching
  • Rashes
  • Pain in the testicles
  • Difficulty in swallowing and breathing
  • Inability to have or maintain an erection

Note: Doctors often recommend Ventorlin inhaler to treat breathing related complications.

These adverse effects are often transient and may go away with continued drug use. If the negative effects continue, call your doctor right away. 

Some of the rare side effects are as follows:

  • Problems with ejaculation (including decreased volume of ejaculate)
  • Decreased sexual desire
  • Swelling in lips
  • Depression

Finasteride Interactions

The medication may have adverse effects when used along with other medicines, food items, etc.

Let your doctor know before using Finasteride tablets to prevent any unwanted effects.

Finasteride Drug Interactions

Finasteride might interact with certain drugs like;

  • Felodipine
  • Benidipine
  • Cilnidipine
  • Amlodipine

Disease Interaction

Inform your healthcare provider about your past medical conditions before consuming this tablet. This drug might interact with diseases like:

Pros and Cons of Finasteride

ProsCons
Doctor’s recommended medicine to regrow receding hairlines.It cannot be consumed if you have any liver disease or Urinary Obstruction
When your body adjusts to the tablets containing this salt, the majority of side effects disappear.

Warnings and Precautions

If you have an allergy to Finasteride, please refrain from using medication.

Women and children are not permitted to use the medicine.

Storage

Keep the medication between 15°C and 30°C at room temperature. It should not be exposed direct.

Other Products with Similar Salts

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Finasteride regrow hairline?

Yes, Finasteride is a trusted medicine to treat hair loss in men, which is caused due to Male Pattern Baldness.

It prevents the body from producing a male hormone in the scalp that inhibits hair growth, thus treating male pattern hair loss.

What is the best time to take Finasteride?

Finasteride is a prescription-based medicine. You must follow your doctor’s instructions while consuming this pill. 

However, you can take 1 mg of Finasteride daily.

You can eat a tablet of Finasteride with or without a meal.

How to reduce the common side effects of Finasteride?

The side effects of Finasteride are rare. If you adhere to the doctor’s suggestion, you might not face those side effects. 

However, if those side effects continue, consult your healthcare provider immediately.

What is Finasteride used for?

Finasteride is a trusted medicine to treat hair loss in men. It prevents the body from producing a male hormone in the scalp that inhibits hair growth, thus treating male pattern hair loss.

Finasteride is also known to treat Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). An enlarged prostate might cause urinary symptoms like blocked urine flow. It causes bladder, urinary tract, and kidney issues.

What are the common Finasteride side effects?

Tablets containing Finasteride are effective in treating hair loss in men. 

However, in some cases, you might face side effects like decreased sexual desire, problems with ejaculation, pain in the testicles, difficulty swallowing and breathing, inability to have or maintain an erection, etc.

Is a prescription required to buy Finasteride?

Yes, a doctor’s prescription is necessary to purchase Finasteride. You should consume this pill only when your doctor recommends it.

Is it safe to use Finasteride for the long term?

Yes, It is safe to use Finasteride for a long time.

Does Finasteride make hair thicker?

Finasteride treats pattern hair loss in men. It helps in regrowing the receding hairline.

Does Finasteride increase testosterone level in the body?

5-alpha-reductase is an enzyme that Finasteride inhibits. This enzyme converts testosterone to a different hormone. 

It will raise the body’s testosterone levels, promoting scalp hair growth.

Does Finastride treat Androgenic Alopecia?

Finasteride, the medicine’s active ingredient, is an FDA-approved drug to treat Androgenic Alopecia. It shows the effectiveness of the medication against Male Pattern Baldness.

Can women take Finasteride?

Finasteride is not an approved drug to be used by women.

How long does Finasteride take to work?

Finasteride begins to work right away.

However, it often takes three to six months before you’ll notice any difference in your hairline or hair density because your hair follicles require time to start creating new hairs.