What are the uses for finasteride-oral (hair growth)?
: Finasteride (Propecia) is used for the
treatment of male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia in males only.
What brand names are available for finasteride-oral (hair growth)?
Propecia (for male hair growth)
Is finasteride-oral (hair growth) available as a generic drug?
Is finasteride-oral (hair growth) available as a generic drug?
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
Do I need a prescription for finasteride-oral (hair growth)?
Yes
What are the side effects of finasteride-oral (hair growth)?
The most common side effects associated with
finasteride are:
- breast enlargement,
- decreased libido,
- erectile dysfunction, and
- ejaculation disorders.
Serious side effects include increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer, and increased risk for male breast cancer.
Propecia (1 mg finasteride) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of male
pattern baldness in December 1997. Another finasteride oral dosage form, Proscar
or 5 mg finasteride tablets are FDA approved only for the treatment of benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and should not be used for androgenetic alopecia. Do
not confuse these finasteride tablets.
QUESTION
It is normal to lose 100-150 hairs per day.
See Answer
What is the dosage for finasteride-oral (hair growth)?
The recommended dose is one 1 mg tablet (Propecia)
once daily. Generally, patients should use 1 mg of finasteride daily for three
months or more before any benefits of treatment are observed. If hair loss
improvement is not noticed after 12 months, additional finasteride treatments
will likely not help.
Which drugs or supplements interact with finasteride-oral (hair growth)?
Carbamazepine, rifampin, and St. John’s
wort may reduce blood levels of finasteride by increasing its breakdown in the
liver. Itraconazole, erythromycin and similar drugs increase blood levels of
finasteride.
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Is finasteride-oral (hair growth) safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Finasteride should not be used or handled by pregnant females. Finasteride prevents the conversion of testosterone to DHT, a
hormone which is necessary for the development of male genitalia. Finasteride should not be used or handled by pregnant mothers due to the potential hazard to the male fetus.
Finasteride should not be used by women. It is not known if finasteride is excreted in human milk.
What else should I know about finasteride-oral (hair growth)?
What preparations of finasteride-oral (hair growth) are available?
Tablets: 1 mg (Caution; do not confuse these
tablets with the 5 mg finasteride tablets (Proscar)
How should I keep finasteride-oral (hair growth) stored?
Tablets should be stored at room temperature, 15 C-30 C (59 F-86 F).