Description

What does finasteride do?

Finasteride decreases the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in your body. DHT is associated with male pattern baldness and prostate enlargement. Therefore, DHT reduction may help to slow hair loss or improve symptoms related to an enlarged prostate.

But that depends on the strength. 1 mg is approved for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in men.

Finasteride 1mg for Hair Loss

Finasteride 1 mg is indicated for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) in men. It may help reduce hair loss and may even stimulate hair growth in some men.

But results take time. According to the official prescribing information, it may take around three months or longer of daily use before benefits are seen. So, patients should stick to the treatment plan set by their doctor and have realistic expectations.

Finasteride 5mg for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Physicians use finasteride 5 mg to treat symptomatic BPH. An enlarged prostate can cause problems urinating. This can include difficulty urinating or a weak urine stream.

Finasteride can improve symptoms of BPH and reduce the risk of urinary retention and the need for surgery of the prostate. However, it does not cure prostate cancer and is not approved to prevent prostate cancer.

What are common side effects?

Like all medicines finasteride can cause side effects. Some reported effects: decreased sex drive, erectile problems, problems ejaculating, decreased volume of ejaculate. Some women also experience breast enlargement or tenderness. patients may also have mood changes or other atypical symptoms. So make sure you see a doctor if you have any worrying or persistent symptoms.

Important Safety Information

Women and children should not use finasteride. Pregnant women or women who might become pregnant should not handle crushed or broken finasteride tablets as exposure may be harmful to a developing male foetus.

Finasteride can also affect PSA levels. Before you have prostate-related laboratory tests, tell your healthcare professional that you take finasteride so your results can be interpreted correctly.

Common Questions

Finasteride 1mg and Finasteride 5mg are the same medicine, differing only in strength.

Both contain finasteride, but they have approval for different uses. The 1 mg strength is indicated for male pattern hair loss and the 5 mg strength is indicated for symptomatic BPH.

How quickly does Finasteride take effect?

How long it takes depends on what condition is being treated. Benefits for male pattern baldness may take three months or more of daily treatment. BPH symptoms also can take months to improve.

Do not change from 1 mg to 5 mg on your own.

No. Do not change strength without medical advice. The right dose for you will depend on the condition being treated and your individual health circumstances.

Summary

Finasteride 1/5mg is the name of two of the most common strengths of the same active ingredient. But each strength has a different medical purpose approved. Therefore, patients should take finasteride only as prescribed and talk about the possible benefits and risks, side effects and duration of treatment with a qualified healthcare professional.