Finasteride

Finasteride is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is when the prostate gland becomes enlarged. This condition is a common reason for urinary tract infections in men. While not every man with BPH needs treatment, symptoms such as waking up at night to urinate (nocturia), needing to urinate more often, and feeling a sudden urge to go can be quite bothersome. Taking medication like Finasteride can help reduce the size of your prostate gland, which may ease these symptoms.

BPH occurs when your prostate becomes enlarged because of changes in certain hormone levels, such as testosterone.

For most men, about 10% of their testosterone is changed into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) daily with the help of an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase (5-AR). However, if your DHT levels become too high, it can cause the prostate to enlarge. By reducing the production of DHT, your prostate can return to its usual size.

Finasteride belongs to a group of medicines known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These medicines work by blocking the enzyme type 2 5α-reductase, which changes testosterone into DHT. By stopping this conversion, it reduces the chance of excessive prostate growth, helping to ease your symptoms.

Finasteride comes in two doses: 1mg and 5mg. The dose you need depends on your condition. The 5mg dose is used for BPH, and the 1mg dose is for hair loss. It's crucial to take the right dose for your condition, as the effects vary.

Topical Finasteride is a newer product that you can find in some countries. However, it's not approved by the FDA and isn't readily available in the UK. It's specifically for treating hair loss in men. At Treated, we only offer oral Finasteride.

You should only stop taking Finasteride if your clinician tells you to. For BPH, you might need to take it for 6 months to a year. You might not notice any changes in the first few weeks, but over time, you should see a noticeable improvement.

Post-finasteride syndrome refers to ongoing side effects some patients experience after stopping Finasteride, such as sexual changes, anxiety, and depression. It is thought to affect about 3%-5% of users. However, there is some debate among scientists about whether it truly exists.

If you're concerned about taking Finasteride for this reason, feel free to chat with our clinician about other treatment options for BPH.

Like all medicines, Finasteride may cause side effects that could impact some individuals. Common side effects include:

If you're worried about any side effects, you can reach out to our clinician online to talk about them.

Yes, Finasteride is the generic form of Proscar. Both have the same active ingredient at the same strength. The main differences are in the price and packaging. You can choose whichever you prefer, but the generic version is usually less expensive.

Drugs used to treat BPH primarily work by targeting the alpha receptors. Finasteride works by blocking 5-alpha reductase, which stops the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dutasteride is another medication that acts as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. It blocks both type 1 and type 2 5-alpha reductase, functioning in a similar way to Finasteride.

Conversely, Tamsulosin works by relaxing the smooth muscle in the prostate through blocking the alpha receptors. This helps improve urine flow and other symptoms associated with BPH, but it doesn't reduce the size of the prostate.

All three are effective for treating BPH. However, Tamsulosin is more suitable for short-term relief of BPH symptoms, while Finasteride and Dutasteride are better for reducing the size of an enlarged prostate.

Yes, Finasteride is also given to treat hair loss in men.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the active form of testosterone, leads to hair loss by making your hair follicles smaller, resulting in thinning hair. Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into DHT, which can help to halt, slow down, or even reverse hair loss.

Finasteride used for BPH is not the same as the one for hair loss. The BPH version has a higher dose of 5mg, while the hair loss version is 1mg. If you're interested in Finasteride for hair loss, please visit the hair loss page.

.