finasteride
Brand names: Finasteride
# Finasteride: What You Need to Know Finasteride is a medication used to treat two main health problems in men. It can help shrink an enlarged prostate gland, which reduces urinary problems like difficulty urinating or needing to go to the bathroom too often. Finasteride is also used to treat male pattern baldness by slowing hair loss and sometimes helping hair regrow. The medication works by blocking a natural substance in the body that causes the prostate to grow larger and hair to fall out. Most people take finasteride as a tablet by mouth once a day. Before taking finasteride, it's important to know some safety information. This medication should not be used by women or children. Men who are allergic to finasteride or any ingredients in the drug should not take it. The good news is that finasteride doesn't cause major problems when taken with other medications—doctors have tested it with many common drugs and found it works safely alongside them. However, like all medicines, finasteride can cause side effects, so it's important to talk to your doctor about whether this medication is right for you and to report any unusual symptoms while taking it.
Taking finasteride with other medications?
Check all your medications at once for potential interactions.
Check Your Medications →Most Reported Side Effects (FAERS)
- FATIGUE3,949 reports
- ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION3,933 reports
- DEPRESSION3,499 reports
- ANXIETY2,966 reports
- DRUG INEFFECTIVE2,534 reports
- DIZZINESS2,376 reports
- SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION2,322 reports
- DIARRHOEA2,265 reports
- DEATH2,169 reports
- ASTHENIA2,106 reports
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Voluntary reports do not establish causation.
Check interactions with finasteride:
SafeCheck provides drug interaction information from FDA-approved product labeling (openFDA). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions.