About finasteride
5-alpha-reductase inhibitor
Used for
- Treats symptoms of enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
- Reduces risk of urinary retention and prostate surgery in suitable patients.
Usual adult dose
5 mg by mouth once daily for enlarged prostate.
Common side effects
- Reduced sex drive or difficulty getting an erection.
- Reduced semen volume or ejaculation problems.
- Breast tenderness or enlargement.
- Depression; rarely, breast lumps or discharge.
Important warnings
- Pregnant people must not handle crushed or broken tablets; finasteride can harm a developing male fetus.
- May lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA), affecting prostate cancer screening results.
- Tell clinicians about finasteride before PSA testing.
- Seek medical assessment for breast lumps or nipple discharge.
Pregnancy
Contraindicated; exposure can harm development of male fetal genitalia.
Breastfeeding
Not indicated for women; use is not recommended.
Interactions
- No major drug interactions are commonly reported; provide clinicians with a complete medication list.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.