Propecia Side Effects
Propecia side effects and precautions
Propecia has remarkably few side effects. Most men taking Propecia report no serious side effects.
In 3 studies of 12 months treatment with Propecia less than 2% of men stopped taking Propecia because of side effects. This was a slightly lower percentage of men in the same trial who stopped taking placebo (dummy pills) because of side effects.
Propecia does not affect male fertility.
Loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and reduced amount of ejaculate were reported in a small number (less than 2%) of men taking Propecia, although the same side effects were reported in almost as many men taking placebo (dummy pills).
The amount of men reporting these side effects after five years is very low (less than 0.3%)
How many men stop taking Propecia because of side effects?
Overall 4 in 100 men experienced sexually related side effects in the first 12 months compared with 2 in 100 taking placebo.
Less than 1 in 100 men in studies stopped taking Propecia in the first 12 months because of sexually related side effects. The incidence of stopping treatment for these side effects declined over the subsequent 4 years.
No other significant side effects have been reported.
Interactions
Propecia is not known to interact significantly with any other medication. It can be taken safely by men taking all other prescription medicines, except Proscar that contains the same active as ingredient (Finasteride) as Propecia.
Finasteride has been studied in combination with and antipyrine, theophylline, digoxin, glyburide, warfarin and propranolol, with no interactions being found. Finasteride used in trials together with ACE inhibitors, and quinolones acetaminophen, alpha blockers, benzodiazepines, calcium channel blockers, cardiac nitrates, diuretics, H2 antagonists, HMG-CoA Reductase inhibitors, prostaglandin synthesase inhibitors (NSAIDs), beta blockers, show no evidence of clinically significant adverse interactions.
Cautions and notes
Propecia (Finasteride) reduces the level in the blood of a naturally occurring substance known as PSA. The amount of PSA (prostate specific antigen) in the blood is measured as a screening test for prostate cancer.
The test of PSA is artificially low in men taking Propecia and therefore the PSA level cannot be used to screen for prostate cancer in men taking Propecia.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
Women should not take Propecia because it will not help with hair loss and because of a potential adverse effect on pregnancy and the developing foetus.
Men taking Propecia who have intercourse with a partner who is pregnant do not put the foetus at risk from the possible adverse effects of Propecia because finasteride is not present in their sperm.
Breastfeeding women should not take Propecia because small amounts of the drug may pass to the infant.
Children and adolescents should not take Propecia because there may be possible adverse effects and there are no benefits to them.
Patient information leaflet
For further details please refer to the Propecia patient information leaflet (PDF).
Propecia is a patented drug developed and manufactured by the Merck pharmaceutical company. It is not available as a cheaper generic drug.
Complete a medical consultation for Propecia tablets online with Dr Fox. Propecia tablets supplied from RPSGB registered NHS pharmacy in the UK.
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