What is Finasteride used for?

Finasteride is for use by men only.

This medication is used to treat men with male pattern hair loss to increase hair growth on the scalp and to prevent further hair loss. Male pattern hair loss (also known as androgenetic alopecia) is a common condition in which men experience thinning of their hair on the scalp. This often results in a receding hair line and/or balding on the top of the head. These changes typically start to occur in some men in their 20s and become more common with age. Once hair loss has occurred over a long period of time, the hair may be permanently lost. Male pattern hair loss is thought to be caused by a combination of family history (heredity) and production of a particular male hormone, called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Men with male pattern hair loss have more DHT in the balding part of their scalp than in other parts, resulting in increased hair loss.

How Finasteride works

Finasteride specifically lowers the levels of DHT in the scalp, thus helping to reverse the balding process. Finasteride does not affect hair on other parts of the body. Men with mild to moderate, but not complete, hair loss can expect to benefit from the use of Finasteride. In women who were studied, Finasteride was not effective in the treatment of hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). There should be no need to change your usual hair care routine (for example, shampooing or haircuts) because you are taking Finasteride.

Finasteride is not addictive.

Before you take Finasteride

Do not take FINASTERIDE if:

• you have an allergy to Finasteride;

• the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering;

• the expiry date on the pack has passed.

If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking Finasteride, talk to your doctor.

Do not give Finasteride to children or women.

Women who are pregnant or may be pregnant must not take Finasteride, handle crushed or broken tablets or handle tablets with wet hands. If the active ingredient in Finasteride is absorbed after swallowing the tablet or through the skin by a woman who is pregnant with a male baby, it may cause the male baby to be born with abnormalities of the sex organs.

Whole tablets are coated to prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets haven't been crushed or broken. If a pregnant woman swallows Finasteride, handles crushed or broken tablets or handles tablets with wet hands, her doctor must be consulted immediately. Finasteride is for use by men only.

Before you start taking it

Tell your doctor if:

1. you have or have had any medical conditions;

2. you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes. If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take any Finasteride.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may affect the way other medications work. However, Finasteride has not been shown to interfere with other medicines.

Driving and operating machinery

Finasteride should not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

How to take Finasteride

Take Finasteride only when prescribed by your doctor. The dose is one tablet taken once each day. Finasteride will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day. Swallow Finasteride with a glass of water. It does not matter if you take Finasteride before or after food. Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. If it is not nearly time for your next dose, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablet as you would normally. If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

How long to take it

Male pattern hair loss is a condition that develops over a long period of time. Because it takes time for new hair to grow, you will not see immediate results. In general, daily use for 3 months or more may be necessary before you notice increased hair growth or prevention of further loss. Continue taking Finasteride for as long as your doctor prescribes.

If you stop taking it

If you stop taking the tablets, your hair loss is likely to resume.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre for advice, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Finasteride. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

While you are using Finasteride

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Finasteride.

Things you must not do

Do not give Finasteride to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Side Effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Finasteride. Finasteride helps most men with male pattern hair loss, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few men. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have. Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

• difficulty in achieving an erection that continues after stopping Finasteride;

• less desire for sex that continued after stopping Finasteride;

• decreased amount of semen released during sex (this decrease does not appear to interfere with normal sexual function).

It is important to understand that, in clinical trials, these unwanted effects disappeared in men who stopped taking Finasteride, as well as in many men who continued treatment. Problems with ejaculation that continue after stopping medication have been reported infrequently. Tell your doctor if you notice this and it worries you. Male infertility and/or poor quality of semen have been reported infrequently. Improvement in the quality of semen has been reported after stopping Finasteride.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• breast swelling and/or tenderness. In rare cases, male breast cancer has been reported;

• breast lumps, pain or discharge from the nipples;

• skin rash, itchiness;

• hives or nettlerash (pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin);

• testicle pain;

• blood in semen;

• depressions (feelings of severe sadness and unworthiness) including suicidal thoughts;

These are uncommon side effects that have been reported with Finasteride.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital if the following happens:

• swelling of the lips, tongue, throat or face.

These may be symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to Finasteride, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare. Other side effects not listed above may occur in some men. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any other unwanted effects.

Storage

Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the blister pack, they may not keep well. Never put the tablets in another box or container, as they might get mixed up. Keep Finasteride in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.