Finasteride is a medication used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and male pattern hair loss. It is available in tablet form and is taken orally. Here are some details about finasteride, including its positive and negative aspects, and its ingredients:
Positive aspects:
- Finasteride is effective in treating BPH and male pattern hair loss.
- It is generally well-tolerated by most people.
- It is available in generic form, which can be less expensive than brand-name versions.
Negative aspects:
- Finasteride can cause side effects, including decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and decreased semen volume.
- It may increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer.
- Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle crushed or broken finasteride tablets, as it can be absorbed through the skin and cause birth defects in male fetuses.
Ingredients:
- Finasteride is a white crystalline powder that is freely soluble in chloroform and in lower alcohol solvents but is practically insoluble in water.
- Inactive ingredients in finasteride tablets may include lactose monohydrate, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, docusate sodium, talc, sodium starch glycolate type A potato, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, yellow iron oxide, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol, and iron oxide red. The specific inactive ingredients may vary depending on the manufacturer and formulation of the medication.
