Finasteride 5 mg (Finasteride)

Adult dose

For finasteride, 5 mg should be taken orally once daily, regardless of meals. Treatment is required for at least 6 months even if symptoms improve.

This medication should not be used by children and women. Especially, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle broken or crushed pieces of this medication, as the components can be absorbed and may affect male fetuses. During the use of this medication, depression or mood changes may occur, thus if these symptoms appear, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional. Patients with allergies to this medication or specific genetic conditions such as lactose intolerance should not take it. Patients with liver function issues should use this medication with caution. While this medication is generally safe, side effects related to sexual function, such as erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and ejaculatory disorders, may occur. These side effects are usually transient and mild. There have been reports associating long-term use of this medication with male breast cancer, but a clear causal relationship with this medication is not yet established. There may be a slight increase in the risk of high-grade lesions of prostate cancer during the use of this medication, so regular examinations are necessary. This medication does not have significant interactions with other drugs, but if there are concurrent medications, it is important to inform the healthcare provider. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take this medication, and women who may become pregnant should take care not to handle broken pieces of this drug. The safety and efficacy in children have not been established, therefore it should not be administered. Elderly patients can generally use this medication without special dosage adjustments, but should consult with healthcare professionals considering their health status. This medication can lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, so this factor should be considered when interpreting PSA test results. There is no specific antidote for overdose, and it should be kept out of reach of children. Transferring this medication to another container is not recommended to maintain quality.

Serious side effects

Hives, severe swelling (angioedema), chest tightness, difficulty breathing, severe rash with fever, blistering, skin peeling, pain of the oral/ocular mucosa, rash (severe skin adverse reaction), jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes, sudden and severe headache, thunderclap headache, seizures, confusion, visual disturbances, paralysis, significant reduction in urine output, severe generalized swelling, hypertension, hypersensitivity (including angioedema)

Mild side effects

• Erectile dysfunction
• decreased libido
• reduced ejaculate
• ejaculatory disorders
• gynecomastia
• breast tenderness
• rash
• itching
• myalgia
• muscle weakness

This medication is sensitive to air and moisture, so it should be stored in a sealed container. It is important to maintain a storage temperature between 1 and 30 degrees Celsius.

Appearance

Blue apple-shaped film-coated tablet

Package unit

30 tablets (10 tablets/PTP × 3)