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It may be prescribed along with another medication, an alpha-blocker called doxazosin, to help you better control your BPH symptoms.
The drug PROSCAR in the form of tablets has the generic name Finasteride.
What is?
It is a medicine used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. It can also be used to reduce the risk of sudden inability to urinate and the need for BPH-related surgery in men with an enlarged prostate.
Description of the medicine
Finasteride is a white crystalline powder with a melting point close to 250 ° C. It is freely soluble in chloroform and low-alcohol solvents, but is practically insoluble in water.
Contraindications
It is for the exclusive use of men.
Do not take the medicine if you are:
- A woman who is pregnant or may be pregnant. Finasteride can harm your unborn baby. Do not touch or handle medicine tablets that are crushed or broken.
- Allergic to Finasteride or any of the ingredients of the drug PROSCAR.
A word of caution about Finasteride and pregnancy:
Women who are or may possibly be pregnant should not use Finasteride. Nor should they handle crushed or broken PROSCAR tablets.
The tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient (Finasteride) during the usual handling of the medicine, as long as the tablets are not broken or crushed.
If a woman who is pregnant with a male baby absorbs the active ingredient Finasteride after oral use or through the skin, it can cause the male baby to be born with abnormalities in the sex organs.
If a pregnant woman comes into contact with the active ingredient Finasteride, a doctor should be consulted.
How should I take it?
- Follow the advice of your doctor. Take one tablet by mouth every day. To avoid forgetting to take it, you can take it at the same time every day.
If you forget to take the medicine, do not take an extra tablet. Just take the next tablet as usual.
- You can take Finasteride with or without food.
- Do not share PROSCAR with anyone else, it was prescribed just for you.
What are the possible side effects?
The most important is that it can increase the chance of a more serious form of prostate cancer.
The most common side effects include:
- Problems getting or keeping an erection (impotence).
- Decrease in sexual desire.
- Decreased volume of ejaculation.
- Ejaculation disorders.
- Enlarged or painful breast (you should report any changes to your breasts, such as lumps, pain, or nipple discharge to your doctor immediately)
The following have been reported in general use with PROSCAR and / or finasteride in lower doses:
- Allergic reactions, including rash, itching, hives, and swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, and face.
- Rarely, some men may have testicular pain.
- Problems getting or keeping an erection that continued after stopping the medicine.
- Ejaculation problems that continued after stopping the medicine.
- Male infertility and / or poor semen quality. Improvement in semen quality was reported after stopping the drug.
- Depression .
- Decreased sex drive that continued after stopping the drug.
- In rare cases, male breast cancer has been reported.
You should talk to your doctor about side effects before taking Finasteride and anytime you think you are having a side effect.
What You Should Know While Taking Finasteride
You should see your doctor regularly while taking the medicine. Follow your doctor’s advice about when to have these checkups.
- Screening for prostate cancer: His doctor prescribed PROSCAR for BPH and not for treating prostate cancer, but a man can have BPH and prostate cancer at the same time. Your doctor may continue to check for prostate cancer while taking PROSCAR.
- About prostate specific antigen (PSA): Your doctor may have done a blood test called PSA to screen for prostate cancer. Because PROSCAR lowers PSA levels, you should inform your doctor that you are taking the medicine.
Changes in PSA levels should be evaluated by your physician (s). Any rise in follow-up PSA levels from their lowest point may indicate the presence of prostate cancer and should be evaluated, even if the test results are still within the normal range.
You should also inform your doctor if you have not been taking PROSCAR as prescribed, as this may affect the PSA test results. For more information, talk to your doctor.
How should I store Finasteride?
- Store the tablets in a dry place at room temperature.
- Keep in original container and keep closed.
- Keep the medicine out of the reach of children.
What are the ingredients of PROSCAR?
- Active Ingredient: Finasteride
- Inactive Ingredients: Hydrated Lactose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Pregelatinized Starch, Sodium Starch Glycolate, LF Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose, Titanium Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate, Talc, Docusate Sodium, FD & C Blue 2 Aluminum Oxide Lake yellow.
What is BPH?
BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate is located below the bladder. As the prostate enlarges, it can slowly restrict the flow of urine. This can lead to symptoms such as:
- A weak or interrupted urinary stream.
- A feeling that you cannot empty your bladder completely.
- A feeling of delay or hesitation when you begin to urinate.
- A need to urinate frequently, especially at night.
- A feeling that you must urinate right away.
- In some men, BPH can lead to serious problems, such as urinary tract infections, a sudden inability to urinate (acute urinary retention), as well as the need for surgery.
What does Finasteride do?
It reduces the levels of a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is one of the causes of prostate growth. It further decreases DHT which leads to the contraction of the enlarged prostate in most men.
This can lead to a gradual improvement in urine flow and symptoms over the next several months. PROSCAR will help reduce the risk of developing a sudden inability to urinate and the need for surgery related to an enlarged prostate.
However, since each case of BPH is different, you should know that:
Although the prostate is narrowed, you may not notice an improvement in urine flow or symptoms. You may need to take PROSCAR medicine for six (6) months or longer to test if your symptoms are reduced.
Therapy can reduce the risk of a sudden inability to urinate and the need for surgery for an enlarged prostate.
