NEWLY DISCOVERED USES (OFF-LABEL)
Acne in women, hirsutism
ORIGINAL USES (ON-LABEL)
Treatment of male pattern hair loss. Treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
BRAND NAME Propecia, Proscar
DRUG CLASS
Antiandrogen
DESCRIPTION
Inhibits 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. This effect markedly suppresses serum dihydrotestosterone levels.
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Erectile dysfunction, impotence, decreased sex drive, decreased ejaculatory volume, breast tenderness or enlargement, skin rash, lip swelling, testicular pain.
CAUTIONS
Not for use if you are pregnant, and children should not use this drug.
Notify your doctor if you have liver dysfunction.
Patients with a large residual urinary volume or severely diminished urinary flow for obstructive uropathy may not be candidates.
A minimum of six months of treatment may be necessary to determine whether an individual will have a response to finasteride.
Patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) should be monitored for prostate cancer before starting therapy with this drug and periodically during therapy.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Check with your doctor or pharmacist prior to starting any new medication, herbal product, or nonprescription drug.
FOOD INTERACTIONS
Unknown
HERBAL INTERACTIONS
St. John’s wort, saw palmetto
PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING CAUTIONS
FDA Pregnancy Risk Category X. Pregnant women or women who may become pregnant should avoid contact with crushed or broken tablets. Not recommended during breast-feeding.
