Finasteride

Active Ingredients: Finasteride
Representative Names: Proscar

What are finasteride tablets?
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
How should I take this medicine?
What if I miss a dose?
What drug(s) may interact with finasteride?
What side effects may I notice from taking finasteride?
What should I watch for while taking finasteride?
Where can I keep my medicine?

What are finasteride tablets?

FINASTERIDE (Propecia^®, Proscar^®)
can reduce the size of the prostate gland in men with benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate is a part of the male reproductive
system that produces a milky fluid for sperm. Over the age of 50 most
men develop an enlarged prostate. As the prostate gets bigger it can
restrict the flow of urine. Finasteride can help to reduce symptoms
caused by BPH such as a weak or interrupted urine flow; a feeling that
the bladder is not completely empty; a need to pass urine more often,
especially at night; an urgent feeling that you must pass urine right
away; a delay or hesitation when you start to urinate. Finasteride is
also used for the treatment of certain types of male hair loss.
Finasteride is not for use in women. Generic finasteride tablets are
available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

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They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•if you are female (finasteride is not for use in women)
•kidney disease or infection
•liver disease
•prostate cancer
•an unusual or allergic reaction to finasteride, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

How should I take this medicine?

Take
finasteride tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription
label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. You can take this
medicine with or without food. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do
not take your medicine more often than directed.

Contact your
pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this
medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

If
you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If you do not remember
until the next day, take only that day’s dose. Do not take double or
extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with finasteride?

•some blood pressure medications
•male hormones (example: testosterone)
•saw palmetto
•soy isoflavones supplements

Tell
your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines
you are taking, including non-prescription medicines. Also tell your
prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of
drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal
drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your
health care professional before stopping or starting any of your
medicines.

What side effects may I notice from taking finasteride?

Side
effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your
prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are
bothersome):
•breast enlargement or tenderness
•skin rash
•sexual difficulties (less sexual desire or ability to get an erection)
•small amount of semen released during sex

What should I watch for while taking finasteride? 

Do
not donate blood until at least 6 months after your final dose of
finasteride. This will prevent giving finasteride to a pregnant female
through a blood transfusion.

Contact your prescriber or health
care professional if there is no improvement in your symptoms. You may
need to take finasteride for 6 to 12 months to get the best results.

Women
who are pregnant or may get pregnant must not handle broken or crushed
finasteride tablets; the active ingredient could harm the unborn baby.
If a pregnant woman comes into contact with broken or crushed
finasteride tablets she should check with her prescriber or health care
professional. Exposure to whole tablets is not expected to cause harm
as long as they are not swallowed.

Finasteride can interfere
with PSA laboratory tests for prostate cancer. If you are scheduled to
have a lab test for prostate cancer, tell your prescriber or health
care professional that you are taking finasteride.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store
at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F).
Protect from light. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any
unused medicine after the expiration date.