Propecia

Propecia (finasteride) is classified as 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. This medicine is intended for the treatment of male pattern baldness, although in many cases may also be prescribed for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, relieving such symptoms as frequent and difficult urination and decreasing the chance of needing a prostate surgery. Propecia is not supposed to be used by women or children, as it has been specially designed for adult males. Women or children should not be allowed to handle crushed tablets of Propecia. It can cause birth defects if handled improperly by a pregnant woman. Before you start your treatment you will need to discuss all the aspects of it with your doctor. Tell your health care provider before being prescribed Propecia if you have abnormal liver enzyme tests, prostate cancer, stricture of the urethra, liver disease, bladder muscle disorder, or inability to urinate. Report any medications you are using at the moment. Although Propecia has not been reported to interact with any drugs, it’s worth mentioning any prescription or over-the-counter products you are taking or are planning on taking to make sure your treatment is safe and efficient. Propecia is very well tolerated and only a few mild side effects can be sometimes experienced, such as headache, weakness, abnormal ejaculation, swelling in your hands or feet, pain in the testicles, runny nose, impotence, trouble having an orgasm, skin rash, swelling or tenderness in your breasts, dizziness, and loss of interest in sex. The side effects mentioned are likely to go away once the treatment is stopped. Taking Propecia for hair loss means that you will probably be required to use this drug for the rest of your life. You may need to wait for some 3 months to see the first results of the treatment. If you stop taking Propecia suddenly, all the progress achieved will be lost within a one-year period. In some very rare cases Propecia can increase the risk of developing male breast cancer. The following symptoms should be watched for carefully to exclude their possibility: nipple discharge, breast pain, other breast changes, and breast lumps. The following symptoms may indicate an allergic reaction to Propecia: swelling of the lips and face, hives, rash, changes in the breasts, and itching. They are likely to occur if you have a history of an allergic reaction to finasteride or dutasteride but take this medicine in spite of that. Although there are no known drug interactions reported, it’s still recommended to repro to your health care provider if you are using any herbal products, prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, or nutritional supplements, just to make sure your treatment is going to be efficient and safe. Make sure you store this drug in some place where it will not be accessed by other people to whom it was not prescribed. It’s impossible for anyone but a health care professional to determine whether a particular patient has any contraindications for using this medicine safely.