Propecia should i take it

Some men taking finasteride have reported test results showing that they had poor sperm quality or were infertile. This is not a common side effect and your sperm usually returns to normal after stopping finasteride. Speak to your doctor if you have recently stopped finasteride and you and your partner are trying for a baby. This is because it takes a while for the effects of the medicine to wear off. Finasteride can give you side effects such as not being able to get an erection impotence and having less interest in sex.

These side effects usually pass after a while. If these side effects do not go away, are worrying you or affecting your sex life, speak to your doctor. Page last reviewed: 10 August Next review due: 10 August Finasteride - Brand names: Proscar, Propecia On this page About finasteride Key facts Who can and cannot use finasteride How and when to take finasteride Side effects How to cope with side effects Advice for women Cautions with other medicines Common questions about finasteride.

About finasteride Finasteride is used to treat men with an enlarged prostate benign prostate enlargement. It can help ease your symptoms if: it's difficult to start peeing you need to pee urgently or frequently more often it's difficult to empty your bladder completely Finasteride comes as tablets. It's available on prescription only. You'll usually take finasteride tablets once a day.

The main side effects are losing interest in sex and difficulty getting an erection. Finasteride can affect the results of PSA testing a blood test to check for prostate cancer This medicine gets into semen and can harm an unborn baby.

Use a condom when having sex if your partner is pregnant or could get pregnant. If you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant, do not touch crushed or broken finasteride tablets. If the tablets are broken, the medicine can pass through your skin and can harm your baby. Finasteride can be taken by men aged 18 years or over. It's generally not recommended for women or children.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell a doctor if you: have had an allergic reaction to finasteride or any other medicines in the past have severe bladder problems have liver problems are trying for a baby or have a pregnant partner — this medicine passes into semen and can affect an unborn baby. Swallow your finasteride tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not break or crush them. Important Pregnant women must not touch crushed or broken finasteride tablets.

Dosage For enlarged prostate the usual dose is 5mg, taken once a day. For hair loss, the usual dose is 1mg, taken once a day. What if I forget to take it? Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. What if I take too much? Finasteride is generally very safe.

Taking too much is unlikely to harm you. Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Common side effects These common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. However, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: problems getting an erection and less interest in having sex problems with ejaculating, such as little or no semen Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people.

Speak to your doctor if you get: any lumps, pain or swelling in your chest area or discharge from your nipples — these may be signs of a serious condition such as breast cancer unusually low mood depression or thoughts of harming yourself Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, finasteride may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis.

What to do about: problems getting an erection and less interest in sex — these side effects should improve with time. If they do not get better, speak to your doctor.

Talk to a doctor if it does not get any better. Finasteride is not affected by other medicines. Telogen effluvium. Alopecia areata. This is a form of autoimmune hair loss, in which your hair can fall out in small, round patches. Tinea capitis. Also referred to as scalp ringworm, this is a type of fungal infection that can cause patchy hair loss. Like almost all medications, finasteride can cause side effects.

Most of the adverse effects of finasteride are mild, although some may have an impact on your quality of life. Inability to get or maintain an erection erectile dysfunction. Sexual side effects, such as erectile dysfunction, difficulty ejaculating and a weaker sex drive, can sound alarming.

Even in studies of Proscar, a high-strength 5mg version of finasteride, only a small percentage of men report these side effects.

For example, in clinical trials of finasteride for BPH, just over eight percent of men reported an effect on their erections, with 6. Other finasteride side effects, such as breast tenderness and rash, were reported by less than one percent of men who used finasteride in clinical trials.

In clinical trials involving the 1mg per day dose used to treat hair loss, sexual dysfunction from finasteride was far less common, with just 1. As with many other medications, some side effects of finasteride may fade away or become less severe with long-term use. Although uncommon, a small percentage of men may continue to experience side effects after stopping treatment with finasteride. Our guide to the side effects of finasteride looks at this data in more detail and provides some additional information on what you should expect while using finasteride for hair loss.

Per the FDA label for finasteride , there are no significant drug interactions associated with this medication. Although low, finasteride is associated with an increased risk of getting a more serious form of prostate cancer, called high-grade prostate cancer. In men over 55 years of age, the risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer increases from 1. Finasteride is typically sold in two dosages. As a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , finasteride is used at a dosage of 5mg per day.

This dose can be found in most generic versions of finasteride and in the brand name medication Proscar. For most men, finasteride is an effective option for treating and preventing hair loss from male pattern baldness. Other affordable and effective hair loss treatment options include:. A topical medication, minoxidil helps to improve blood flow to the scalp and stimulate hair growth. We offer minoxidil solution and minoxidil foam online.

You can also purchase finasteride and minoxidil together in our Hair Power Pack. Hair loss prevention shampoo. Many shampoos, including those that contain active ingredients such as saw palmetto and ketoconazole, are formulated to prevent excess hair shedding and promote optimal hair growth.

It wouldn't be surprising if Trump takes Propecia; that wispy, discolored mop looks anything but natural. Or perhaps, like Samson the Israelite, Trump's power is somehow linked to his flowing locks.

It makes total sense that he would do whatever possible to prevent balding. Hey, anything to make sense of the guy. This bit of gossip aside, it's a big question for guys in their late twenties and early- to mid-thirties: How far will you go to prevent hair loss?

Are you going to move to Nova Scotia because you read somewhere that pollution causes male pattern baldness? Or will you embrace it and shave your hair as closely as possible? Hormone-altering drugs like Propecia have numerous potential side effects.