What is Finasteride?

Finasteride is a medication for males only, as it primarily helps to shrink the enlarged prostate gland. A part of the male reproductive system, this gland secretes a fluid that carries sperm. It grows larger in men who have BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia, and those over fifty years of age. This enlargement makes it difficult for urine to pass. Men experience reduced flow of urine, the inability to pass urine completely. Finasteride helps to minimize these symptoms. It has also been found to be effective in controlling some kinds of hair loss in men.

Pre-existing conditions that can impact the effect of this medication

Please check with your doctor if you have any of the following pre-existing conditions:

• liver disease
  
  
• kidney disease, kidney infection
  
  
• prostate cancer

Also, ensure that you are not allergic to medications such as Finasteride, preservatives, foods, or dyes.

How to consume Finasteride?

Finasteride tablets must be taken orally with a glass of water. You are advised to take the tablets in the prescribed quantity and as often as it is prescribed.

Caution: Do not give this medication to anyone else, as it is prescribed for you only.

Please contact the poison control centre or rush to the emergency room, if you have consumed more than the prescribed dosage.

In case you miss to take a dose

In the event that you miss a dose, you must take it right away. However, if a day has lapsed, then you must not take extra doses, but just the one dose for the current day.

Drug Interactions

These are some things that may interfere with the medicine's efficacy:

• male hormones like testosterone
  
  
• blood pressure medicines
  
  
• saw palmetto
  
  
• soy isoflavones supplements

If you are taking any other prescribed medications or over-the-counter drugs, then please inform your physician. If you consume a lot of caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, smoke or take illicit drugs, then you must let your doctor know. All these activities impact the effect of this medicine. Before you make any changes to your medicine consumption, please consult your doctor.

Precautions

In order to avoid passing Finasteride to an expectant mother by way of transfusion, you are requested not to donate blood for a minimum of 6 months after you have stopped taking this medicine.

For optimum results, Finasteride must be taken for at least a 6 to 12 month period. In case you do not get any relief from your symptoms, then get in touch with your physician.

Since Finasteride has an adverse effect on an unborn child, pregnant women, or those who might get pregnant, are advised not to touch broken or powdered Finasteride tablets or consume them. If this happens, then the concerned woman must consult her physician immediately. Touching or handling whole Finasteride tablets does not have the same effect.

PSA laboratory tests can be affected by Finasteride. Please inform your doctor that you are taking this medication, in case you are about to be checked for prostate cancer.

Side Effects

The following are some minor side effects that are not generally serious:

• loss of libido or difficulty to achieve erection
  
  
• less than normal quantity of semen in ejaculate
  
  
• breast swelling or tenderness
  
  
• skin rash

Storage

Ensure that this medicine is kept away from children. Store it in a container that small kids cannot open.

Make sure the medication is kept away from direct sunlight, at normal temperature of 15 to 30 degrees C, or 59 to 86 degrees F. Always close the container tightly. After its date of expiry, dispose any leftover medication immediately.