Finasteride: what it is for and how to take it

Finasteride is a medicine indicated for the treatment of baldness in men with androgenic alopecia, as it helps to increase hair growth and prevent hair loss.

This medicine can be provided free of charge by the SUS, as long as it has a medical indication, or be purchased in pharmacies or drugstores in the form of 1 mg or 5 mg tablets, as the generic “finasteride” or with the trade names Finalop, Fendical or Flaxin, for example.

Finasteride can also be found in combination with other substances, such as doxazosin mesylate, for the treatment of enlarged prostate, and should always be used with medical advice as it can cause side effects such as decreased sexual desire, impotence or even swelling or sensitivity in the breasts.

What is it for

Finasteride is indicated for the treatment of:

• Androgenic or androgenetic alopecia in menwhich is hair loss due to a genetic predisposition, resulting in baldness;
• Benign prostate hyperplasiawhich is benign enlargement of the prostate in men.

Finasteride should always be used with the indication and monitoring of a dermatologist or urologist, for the duration of treatment guided by the doctor, with individualized doses and assessment of side effects, and may also be other medicines for the treatment of these health conditions.

How to drink

Finasteride should be taken orally, with a glass of water, before or after a meal, at times established by the doctor.

The dosage of finasteride for adult men varies depending on the composition of the tablet and the objective of treatment and includes:

1. Finasteride 1 mg

Finasteride 1 mg is indicated for the treatment of baldness in men with androgenic alopecia. Understand better what androgenic alopecia is.

The normally recommended dose is 1 tablet of 1 mg of finasteride, per day, for 3 months or more, as advised by the dermatologist, so that hair growth occurs and hair loss is prevented.

2. Finasteride 5 mg

Finasteride 5 mg is indicated for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign prostate enlargement, in order to reduce the risk of urinary retention and the need for surgery.

The normally recommended dose is 1 5 mg finasteride tablet per day, or as advised by your urologist.

3. Finasteride 5 mg + doxazosin mesylate 2 mg

Finasteride 5 mg + doxazosin mesylate 2 mg is indicated for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia when a man presents urinary symptoms, such as frequent urge to urinate, difficulty starting to urinate or a weak stream of urine, for example. See all the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The normally recommended dose is 1 capsule of finasteride 5 mg + doxazosin mesylate 2 mg, once a day, always at the same time, as advised by the urologist.

Possible side effects

The most common side effects of finasteride are decreased libido, sexual impotence, abnormal ejaculation, difficulty orgasming, or swelling or tenderness in the breasts.

Furthermore, other side effects that may arise are pain in the testicles, the presence of blood in the semen or depression. In these cases, you should contact the treating doctor for an evaluation.

It is also important to seek medical help if changes occur in the breast, such as pain, lumps or secretion or liquid coming out of the nipples, as finasteride can increase the risk of developing breast cancer in men. Know how to identify all the symptoms of male breast cancer.

Who shouldn’t use

Finasteride should not be used by pregnant or lactating women, as well as children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

This medicine should also not be used by men who are allergic to finasteride or any other component of the tablet or capsule.