Proscar Side Effects

Proscar may cause uncommon, serious adverse side effects. If you have any of these symptoms after taking Proscar, contact your doctor immediately:

Lumps in breasts, discharge from the nipples, or other changes in breasts may be signs of male breast cancer
Signs of a severe allergic reaction such as hives, rashes, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, mouth or throat
Inability to urinate
Pain or aching in testicles
Male infertility
Peripheral edema or inflammation of the tissue due to buildup of fluids. This may permanently damage nerves if untreated.

Common side effects caused by Proscar include:

Erectile dysfunction or decrease in libido/desire to have sex
Unusual ejaculation including a reduced amount of ejaculate
Faintness
Feelings of depression
Enlargement or soreness of the breasts
Runny nose
Headaches
Increased hair growth

Although less serious, if any of these symptoms persist after taking Proscar contact your doctor.

Warnings & Recalls for Proscar

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration revised labeling for Finasteride (Proscar) in April 2012 to include information about negative sexual side effects that have commonly persisted after using this medication. Previously, Merck & Co. addressed the issue of these symptoms during the time that patients were taking the medicine; the FDA made additions to the statement, claiming that the side effects often continued after ending the use of treatments containing Finasteride.In men over the age of 55, Proscar may increase the possibility of high-grade prostate cancer.Warning: Women and children should not handle crushed Proscar tablets. Proscar may be absorbed into the skin causing serious harm, such as abnormalities or mutations in the genitalia of the male fetus during developing in a pregnant woman.If you are pregnant or may become pregnant and have handled broken or crushed tablets of Proscar, contact your doctor at once.

Proscar Treatment and Use

Proscar | Finasteride is a class 5-alpha reductase inhibitor tablet manufactured by Merck & Company that may be used alone or in conjunction with other medications such as Cardura to reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or the swelling of the prostate gland. Proscar is not a cure for benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Proscar may also be used in other areas such as:

Decreasing the possibility of the inability to urinate (acute urinary retention)
Reducing need for prostate surgery
Preventing hair loss in men

Proscar does not reduce hair loss in women or children and is not shown to prevent hair loss near the temples in men.

How Does Proscar Work?

Proscar, as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, hinders the effect of particular male hormones located in the prostate, called androgens, which convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and can cause the gland to become enlarged. By blocking these hormones, Proscar can, in many cases, reduce the growth of the prostate and treat side effects of benign prostatic hyperplasia among patients.

Proscar Dosage and Storage Information

Proscar comes in a 5mg tablet that should be taken orally once each day at around the same time.
The capsule may be taken with or without food.
If you miss a dose, take Proscar promptly or, if it is closer to your next dose, skip the previous and continue with the normal schedule.
Do not take more than one dose per day.
Store Proscar at room temperature, completely sealed. Proscar should not be handled by women or children.

It may take up to 6 months to see improvement in reducing the enlargement of the prostate and related symptoms.

Keep this medication away from women and children as it may be absorbed through the skin, causing serious side effects. See our “Warnings” tab for more information.

Other Names for Proscar

Brand name: Proscar or Propecia by Merck

Generic name: Finasteride