What’s covered?

What are the side effects of finasteride?

Everything you should know before taking finasteride tablets for male pattern hair loss or prostate cancer.

If you have any experience of male pattern baldness or enlarged prostate, you might be familiar with finasteride. It is approved by FDA for these issues. It is available in the tablet form and also in sprays. It promotes hair growth on the crown and hairline while hair growth on other body parts is not affected.

The most common brands are Propecia and Proscar. Proscar is prescribed for treating high-grade prostate cancer, while Propecia is used for androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness). This drug, however, is not prescribed for women and children.

If you want to order finasteride tablets, click here.

How does finasteride help in male pattern hair loss and prostate cancer?

One of the culprits responsible for prostate enlargement and androgenic alopecia is the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The DHT is produced from the testosterone hormone by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. The finasteride blocks the 5-alpha-reductase, thus stopping the conversion of testosterone into DHT and lowering the levels of DHT.

General safety recommendations

If you are planning to use it, you should consult a doctor and obtain a prescription as it is a prescription drug and is not available over the counter. Before use, you should know these general guidelines.

• It is not recommended for women, particularly pregnant and breastfeeding women. Such women are not advised even to handle crushed, and broken finasteride tablets as small amounts can be absorbed through the skin.
• It should be used cautiously in older men suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP), as 5a- reductase inhibitors increase the risk of prostatic cancer in such people. However, a randomized clinical trial conducted in 2003 found that it is effective for people 55 or older and its prolonged use reduced the risk of prostate cancer.
• It is also guarded in liver patients and should be used after consulting the doctor.
• The same is true for kidney patients who should consult the doctor before using any drug.
• It is also not used for under 18 kids (paediatric patients).
• Do not take a double dose in case of a missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of finasteride?

Like other drugs, it can also cause side effects if used without indications and without recommendation. For the sake of simplicity, we can categorize the side effects into these categories;

More common side effects

These side effects are experienced by approximately 1% of users. These side effects may or may not require emergency care, but you should monitor them and rush to the doctor if the situation escalates. These signs are often related to overuse or the use without indications and recommendations. These include;

• Light-headedness
• Erection problems (temporary erectile dysfunction) are experienced by less than 2% of users.
• Decreased libido and sexual dysfunction
• Cold sweats
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Chills

Less common side effects

These side effects are less reported but can be severe. These include;

• Loss or gain of weight that is unusual
• Tingling in feet or hands
• Redness and rashes on the skin
• Swelling on the face and lips
• Bloating

Less serious side effects

These effects mostly appear at the start of treatment However, as the body begins to adapt to the drug, these effects disappear. These are;

• Lack of sexual interest and problems with erection.
• Problematic ejaculations with little to no semen.

Serious side effects

These effects are rare (experienced by approximately 0.1% of users) and mainly result from prolonged use. These effects include;

• Depression and thoughts of self-harm, e.g., suicide.
• Painful swellings on the chest, breast pain and discharges could be a sign of cancer. Although reports are conflicting, some studies have reported an increased incidence of male breast cancer in finasteride users. So, immediately rush to the clinic if you note any lump, discharge or pain in your breasts.
• Severe allergic reactions, e.g., anaphylaxis, causes a wide array of symptoms, e.g., chest tightness, skin irritation, and swelling on any body parts. These symptoms require you to rush to your healthcare provider.

How finasteride interact with other drugs?

You should also know drug interactions if you are already on medication. But here is some good news. This drug is not known to have any clinically relevant interactions with other medicines. Most of the drugs are metabolized by the cytochrome p-450 enzyme system in the liver, and the finasteride doesn't disturb this system.

It doesn't cause any adverse reactions with acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, ACE inhibitors, alpha-blockers, NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, analgesics, diuretics etc.

However, the advice of a healthcare professional is recommended before using it with other drugs.

How can overuse harm you?

Therapeutic drugs are sold with a high margin of safety and lethal effects do not appear with moderately high dosage. The dangerous effects of overdose occur if you take a dose many times higher than the recommended therapeutic dose which is 1-5 mg/day. The finasteride is safe as the clinical studies have found no severe impact with a three-month use of a single dose of 400mg and multiple doses of 80mg.

However, significant lethal effects occurred in the mice that received a very high dose of 500mg/kg for male mice and 400mg/kg for female mice. But, you are not supposed to take such higher doses.

Conclusion

Finasteride is an FDA-approved drug to treat hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) and benign prostate cancer. It reduces the levels of DHT, the leading cause of these issues. For whatever purpose you use finasteride, it will leave some undesirable effects ranging from mild irritations and ejaculation disorder to severe and life-threatening allergic reactions. It is advised to remain in touch with the doctor and report any side effects for immediate response to severe ones.

If you have hair fall or prostatic enlargement, Welzo has a range of services for you, e.g., online consultations, drug delivery and testing services. If you need an online consultation, click here, and if you want drug delivery at your doorstep, click here.