How Do the New Warnings on Finasteride Affect Me?

What does finasteride treat?

Finasteride is used to treat or resolve symptoms associated with the following conditions:

1. Enlarged prostate also known as benign prostate enlargement

Symptoms of enlarged prostate include:

• You need to pee urgently or more often
• It’s difficult to empty your bladder completely
• It’s difficult to start peeing

2. Treatment of hair loss in men also known as male pattern baldness

How does finasteride work?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone that makes the prostate gland grow larger than usual and leads to hair loss on the scalp. Finasteride works by blocking  an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT. This helps reduce the size of the prostate, which makes it easier to pee. It also slows down hair loss in men.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone that can enlarge the prostate and also cause hair loss on the scalp. Finasteride works by inhibiting the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT. By doing so, it helps shrink the prostate, making urination easier, and it also helps slow down hair loss in men.

Finasteride is available as a generic or as the brand names Proscar or Propecia.

Can finasteride be used in women?

Finasteride is not generally recommended for use in women. However, it might be prescribed by a specialist doctor but only in very rare cases.

Key Information about finasteride

• Finasteride is usually taken only once a day
• If you’re prescribed finasteride it for an enlarged prostate then it can take up to 6 months to work fully
• Common side effects of taking finasteride include losing interest in sex and difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
• Rare side effects of taking finasteride include mood changes such as depression and thoughts of self-harming. You should Speak to your doctor right away if you experience these side effects

What are the new warnings about finasteride?

The UK’s medicines regulator , The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recently conducted a review of the available evidence about finasteride.  This followed patient concerns being raised about a lack of awareness of psychiatric and sexual side effects amongst patients and healthcare professionals.

To address these concerns, the MHRA has introduced the following measures to ensure that finasteride can be prescribed and used safely and effectively for its intended purpose:

• Introduction of a patient alert card  in all packs of finasteride to raise awareness of the risks that finasteride can pose including psychiatric and sexual side-effects such as sexual dysfunction (decreased libido and erectile dysfunction) which can continue after stopping treatment
• Healthcare professionals and service providers have been advised to ask patients if they have a history of depression or suicidal ideation before prescribing finasteride
• Healthcare professionals and service providers are being asked to monitor patients for signs of psychiatric and sexual side-effects from the start of their treatment

Sources

• Finasteride -NHS
• NCBI – Finasteride