Proscar

Generic Name: Finasteride
Product Name: Proscar

Indication

Proscar is a medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP). It is only for use in men only.

Action

Proscar works by slowly reducing the size of your prostate gland. This graually improves your urine flow and other symptoms over several months. It also helps reduce the risk of developing a sudden inability to pass urine and the need for surgery. This may happen whether or not you notice any improvement or change in your symptoms, such as

• weak or interrupted stream of urine
• feeling that you cannot empty your bladder completely
• delay before you start to pass urine
• needing to pass urine often, especially at night
• feeling that you must pass urine right away

Dose advice

Dose information:

1. The usual dose of Proscar in men is one 5mg tablet daily.
2. You should take Proscar at the same time daily as this will help you to remember to take the tablets. It does not matter if you take Proscar tablet before or after food.
3. You should take Proscar as long as your doctor asks you to. Proscar shrinks the prostate gland slowly. Therefore, you may need to take Proscar for 6 months or longer to see whether it helps you.
4. While you are taking Proscar, you should go to your doctor for regular checkups, including a physical check for prostate cancer once a year if you are over 50.

Contraindications:

• Exposure of Proscar tablets to women when they are or may potentially be pregnant
• Allergy to Proscar
• Use in women or children

Precautions:

Before you start to take Proscar, you must tell your doctor if you

• have or have had any medical conditions
• are taking other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop
• are having a blood test to measure your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels

Use in pregnancy (Category X):

Proscar tablets are coated and hence it should not be crushed or broken. Exposure to Proscar during pregnancy may cause the male baby to be born with abnormalities of the sex organs.

Lactation:

It is not known if Proscar may be passed into breast milk. Hence, breastfeeding mother should avoid be in contact or taking Proscar. Proscar is not recommended for use in women.

Schedule

Proscar is Schedule 4

Common side effects

All medicines have side effects. Most commonly the side effects are minor, however some can be more serious. Usually the benefits of taking a medication outweigh the associated side effects. Your doctor would have considered these side effects before starting you on Proscar.

Common side effects are those which occur in more than 1% of patients given Proscar. These include:

• inability to have an erection
• less desire for sex
• decreased amount of semen released during sex

Uncommon side effects

Side effects which occur in less than 1% of patients given Proscar are considered uncommon. Patients do not necessarily experience any of these side effects, so do not become alarmed by this list:

• breast swelling and/or tenderness
• breast lumps, pain or discharge from the nipples
• skin rash, itchiness
• hives
• testicle pain
• swelling of the lips or face

If you experience any of the listed side effects, or any other symptoms which appear abnormal or unusual, please tell your doctor.

References

1. Australian Medicines Handbook. Proscar. January 2008 [cited 2008 July 08]. Available from: [URL Link]
2. MIMS Online [online]. 11 May 2004 [cited 2008 July 08]. Available from: [URL Link]

For further information talk to your doctor.