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Finasteride
Brand
Name: Propecia
Most
Common Medical Uses
Propecia
is an androgen hormone inhibitor most commonly used to treat male
pattern hair loss IN MEN ONLY.
How
to Take This Medication
Take
Propecia exactly as directly by your doctor. Ask your doctor, nurse,
or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine.
This medicine may be taken with a full glass of water once daily
on an empty stomach.
Possible
Side Effects
Possible
side effects that may occur while taking Propecia are decreased
libido, impotence, breast tenderness or enlargement. If you experience
any of these, notify your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY
if you experience the following side effects or symptoms of toxicity:
difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips,
tongue, or face; or hives. If you notice other effects not listed
above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Precautions
Before
taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have liver disease.
It may take several months for this medication to work. Check with
your doctor before you stop taking this medicine. Stopping this
medicine prematurely could result in a return within 12 months to
the same amount of baldness as when you started. Women who are or
who may become pregnant must not take Propecia and must not handle
crushed Propecia tablets. The medication could be absorbed through
the skin and cause birth defects in a male fetus.
Drug
Interactions
Before
you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter,
check with your doctor or pharmacist especially if you are taking
any nitrate medications (e.g., nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate),
nitroprusside (any "nitric oxide donor" medicines), cimetidine,
erythromycin, azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole),
mibefradil, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin) or high blood pressure medicines.
Missed
Dose
If
you miss a dose of this medicine and you remember the same day,
take it as soon as possible. If you do not remember until the next
day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Do not take 2 doses at once.
Storage
Store
this medicine at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15
and 30 degrees C) in a tightly-closed container, away from moisture.
Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
Notes
Do
not share Propecia with others for whom it was not prescribed, since
they may have a problem that is not effectively treated by this
drug. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions.
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