General Info: Uses and Effects

Proscar Generic (Finasteride) is a medication that shrinks BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), or enlarged prostate in adult men. The drug is used to cure the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and male pattern hair loss.

Proscar belongs to a class of drugs called 5-ARIs (5-alpha-reductase inhibitors). The medicament is used to inhibit 5-alpha reductase, which is an enzyme responsible for the production of dihydrotestosterone hormone from testosterone. This way, the drug decreases the amount of DHT in the human body, thereby preventing or improving the conditions associated with it.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is implicated in prostate cancer, male pattern hair loss or baldness, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

How Does It Work

This drug works by reducing the amount of dihydrotestosterone in the body. This way, it improves and treats the symptoms of BPH, such as urinary blockages, difficulty urinating, and frequent urination. This medicine, by lowering the amount of DHT, also reduces the need for conducting prostate surgery for treating prostate enlargement.

Proscar Finasteride also helps in preventing and treating male pattern hair loss, which is usually caused by increased amount of dihydrotestosterone in the body. This medication also stimulates hair growth not only on the head, but also in the body.

Contraindication: Important to Know

It's extremely important that you tell your doctor about your medical history, any current health issues, and allergic reactions to certain medications and foods if there is any. Well, Proscar Generic is approved by the FDA and licensed for doctors to subscribe it to men who are experiencing male pattern hair loss and symptoms of BPH. However, it's advisable that you inform your physician before you start using it. The following individuals must not take Finasteride:

• Women especially of child bearing potential;
• Children;
• Patients who are allergic to Finasteride.

Patients should use this drug under a close supervision of a doctor, especially for those patients who have, or had had kidney or liver disease, a bladder muscle disorder, prostate cancer, stricture of urethra, and epilepsy.

Proscar Finasteride is not a safe drug for you if you currently have, or had had these conditions because it might cause serious complications. You should never use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it, or a similar drug called Avodart (Dutasteroid).

Proscar Generic is not meant for women. In fact, it can cause severe birth defects if a pregnant woman is exposed to it. A woman of child bearing potential should not handle Finasteride.

Instructions on Taking

Although this medicament is licensed to be subscribed by physicians to patients, it is very important that you use it as per the instructions of your healthcare provider and the instructions on the label. In other words, take this medicine exactly as directed.

You should swallow the tablet whole without chewing or breaking it. You are not supposed to crush or open it. Proscar Finasteride doesn't react with food thus take this medicament with a full glass of water. Therefore, it can be administered without or with meals. You should take this medicine daily at the same time for you to get the maximum benefits. Patients are required to take Proscar Generic at night before your bedtime.

To be sure this drug is being helpful to you and not causing any harmful effects, your doctor needs to test your blood regularly. The physician will also test your PSA or prostate specific antigen to check if you are at risk of suffering prostate cancer.

Even if you are convinced that your condition has improved tremendously and you have already achieved the desired results, you should not stop using this medication suddenly because that might cause horrible withdrawal symptoms. Be sure to follow the prescriptions of your physician on how to reduce and eventually stop the dose.

Dosage

The recommended dose Proscar Generic for men is one tablet of 5mg per day.

The drug is taken just once a day a single dose. It should be taken at the same time every day. Patients should take this medicine at night especially when they are going to bed.

Note that 5mg per day is the maximum recommended dosage, and you should not take more than this amount.

Side Effects

This medicament has some side effects that patients might experience. These adverse effects usually vary from people to people, and you might not experience the same reactions that another patient is experiencing. You don't have to worry about these side effects because they are usually mild and brief. The following are some of the severe side effects you may suffer from if you are taking this drug:

• Abnormal ejaculation;
• Decreased libido;
• Nipple discharge;
• Breast pain, lumps;
• Ejaculation problems;
• Trouble getting or maintaining an erection;
• Swelling of your throat, tongue, lips, or face;
• Difficulty breathing;
• Impotence.

Here are some of less serious adverse effects that can appear while using Proscar Finasteride:

• Headache;
• Skin rash;
• runny nose;
• Dizziness, weakness;
• Swelling in your feet or hands;
• Feeling of light-headedness, as if you might pass out.

Interaction with Other Drugs

There are some drugs that may interact with Proscar Finasteride and alter its action on the body and even lead to severe complications. Some of the medicines that will interact with this medication include:

• Theophylline;
• Digoxin;
• Warfarin (Jantoven, Coumadin);
• Propranolol;
• Antipyrine and Benzocaine otic.

Just tell your healthcare provider about any medication you are taking now. You should keep in mind that Proscar Generic (Finasteride) is a prescription medicine thus you should not take it if your doctor has not prescribed it for you. Always remember to take it exactly as per your doctor's instructions.