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Finasteride: 7 things you should know

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 26, 2023.

1. How it works

2. Upsides

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Finasteride 5mg is effective at treating the symptoms and delaying the progression of BPH. Finasteride 1mg temporarily reverses hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). Sexual dysfunction has been reported in less than 10% of men who take finasteride.

5. Tips

6. Response and effectiveness

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with finasteride may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with finasteride. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

There are no known major drug interactions with finasteride. Common medications that may have a moderate interaction with finasteride include:

Extensively metabolized by CYP3A4 enzymes but does not affect CYP isoenzymes.

May interfere with PSA tests. A 50% decrease in serum PSA concentrations in those with BPH receiving 5mg finasteride daily, even if they do have prostate cancer.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with finasteride. You should refer to the prescribing information for finasteride for a complete list of interactions.

References

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use finasteride only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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