In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine
must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision
you and your doctor will make. For finasteride, the following
should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever
had any unusual or allergic reaction to finasteride. Also tell
your health care professional if you are allergic to any other
substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Women who are or may become
pregnant should not take finasteride or should not be exposed to
broken or crushed finasteride tablets, because it can cause
changes in the genitals (sex organs) of male fetuses.
Older adults—This medicine has been tested
and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems
in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines
should not be used together at all, in other cases two different
medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.
In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other
precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional
if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription
(over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Finasteride tablets may be crushed to make them easier to
swallow. However, women who are or may become pregnant should not
handle crushed finasteride tablets.
For patients taking this medicine for benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH):
 | To help you remember to take your medicine, try to get into
the habit of taking it at the same time each day.
| Remember that this medicine does not cure BPH but it does
help reduce the size of the prostate. Therefore, you must
continue to take it if you expect to keep the size of your
prostate down. You may have to take this medicine for at
least 6 months to see the full effect. You may have to
take this medicine for the rest of your life. Do not stop
taking this medicine without first discussing it with your
doctor.
| This medicine helps to reduce urinary problems in men with
BPH. In general, it is best to avoid drinking fluids,
especially coffee or alcohol, in the evening. Then your sleep
will not be disturbed by your need to urinate during the
night. |
| |
For individuals taking this medicine for hair growth:
| You may have to take this medicine for at least 3 months to
see an effect. The effect will last only as long as the
medicine continues to be used. The new hair will be lost
within 1 year after finasteride is stopped. |
Dosing—
The dose of finasteride will be different for different
patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the
label. The following information includes only the average
dose of finasteride. If your dose is different, do not change
it unless your doctor tells you to do so:
| For oral dosage form (tablets):
| For treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH):
| Adults—5 milligrams (mg) once a day. |
| For hair growth:
| Adults—1 mg once a day. |
|
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Missed dose—
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as
possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip
the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do
not double doses.
Storage—
To store this medicine:
| Keep out of the reach of children.
| Store away from heat and direct light.
| Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in
other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to
break down.
| Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of
children. |
| | |
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some
unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may
occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the
following side effects occur:
| Less common
| Breast enlargement and tenderness; skin rash;
swelling of lips |
Breast enlargement and tenderness, skin rash and swelling
of lips are more likely to occur with the 5-mg dose.
|
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical
attention. The following side effects may go away during treatment
as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your
doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are
bothersome:
| Less common or rare
| Abdominal pain; back pain; decreased libido
(decreased interest in sex); decreased volume of
ejaculate (decreased amount of semen); diarrhea;
dizziness; headache ; impotence (inability to
have or keep an erection) |
A decrease in the amount of semen during ejaculation should
not affect your sexual performance and is not a sign of any
change in fertility.
|
| Incidence Unknown
| Testicular pain |
|
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some
patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
