What is finasteride?Finasteride (brand names Proscar®, Propecia®) is a medication used in dogs to restore infertility issues caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy (an enlargement of the prostate gland caused by hormones) and to treat the general clinical signs associated with it. Finasteride can reduce the size of the prostate without affecting the production of testosterone or the quality of semen in dogs used for breeding. In intact, non-breeding dogs, finasteride can be used to help with signs related to benign prostatic hypertrophy, such as an increased urge to urinate, straining to defecate, and blood in the urine. Finasteride is also used to treat adrenal disease in ferrets. Show
Its use in dogs and ferrets is ‘off-label’. Many drugs are commonly prescribed for off-label use in veterinary medicine. In these instances, follow your veterinarian’s directions and cautions very carefully. How do I give my pet finasteride?Finasteride comes in pill form and is given by mouth. It may be given with or without food. If your pet vomits or seems unwell after receiving the medication on an empty stomach, give the next dose with a small amount of food. Finasteride should be temporarily discontinued prior to and during breeding to minimize any potential issues with offspring. This medication can take up to a few weeks before full effects are noted, but gradual improvements are usually appreciable after a few days. What if I miss giving my pet the medication?Give the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then wait the recommended amount of time between doses; if it is close to the next scheduled dose when you remember, skip the dose you missed and give it at the next scheduled time. After that, return to the regular schedule. Never give your pet two doses at once or give extra doses. Are there any potential side effects from finasteride?No side effects have been reported in dogs. This short-acting medication should stop working within 24 hours, although effects can be longer in pets with liver or kidney disease. Are there any risk factors for this medication?In dogs: Young/sexually developing dogs should not be given this medication, nor should it be given to sexually mature, pregnant, or nursing females. Finasteride should not be given to dogs that are known to be hypersensitive to it. Use cautiously in dogs with significant liver disease. In humans: Finasteride is a known teratogen that can be absorbed through the skin, so pregnant or potentially pregnant women must handle this medication with EXTREME CAUTION. Gloves should be worn when handling the medication. DO NOT crush pills, as inhaling the drug is just as dangerous as touching or consuming it – crushing the pills creates powders that can become airborne. If your pet vomits after giving this drug, wear gloves while cleaning up. Women hoping to become pregnant should also avoid the sperm of male partners exposed to finasteride.
Are there any drug interactions I should be aware of?No drug interactions with finasteride have been reported. Be sure to tell your veterinarian about any medications (including vitamins, supplements, or herbal therapies) that your pet is taking. Is there any monitoring that needs to be done with this medication?Prostate exams should be done to determine if the drug is working. If used to treat clinical signs, monitor for relief of symptoms. How do I store finasteride?Store in a tightly sealed container, protected from light, at room temperature (below 30°C or 86°F). What should I do in case of an emergency?If you suspect an overdose or an adverse reaction to the medication, call your veterinary office immediately. If they are not available, follow their directions in contacting an emergency facility
Finasteride is a prescription drug. It comes as an oral tablet. Finasteride oral tablet is available as the brand-name drugs Proscar and Propecia. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name drug. Why it’s usedThe condition that finasteride is used to treat depends on the type of the drug used.
Finasteride isn’t prescribed for use in women or children. How it worksFinasteride works by decreasing the amount of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in your body. DHT normally causes your prostate to grow larger. The decrease in DHT helps prevent your prostate from growing larger. It also leads to increased hair growth and decreased hair loss of the hair on your head. Hair growth on other parts of the body isn’t affected. Finasteride oral tablet doesn’t cause drowsiness, but it can cause other side effects. More common side effectsThe more common side effects that can occur with finasteride include:
If these effects are mild, they may disappear within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t disappear, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effectsCall your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we can not guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help prevent interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how finasteride oral tablet might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we can not guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. This drug comes with several warnings. Allergy warningFinasteride can cause a severe allergic reaction, causing symptoms such as:
If you develop these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). Contact with drug warningFinasteride may be passed through the skin. Pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant in the near future should not handle this drug. Doing so could cause birth defects. Warnings for people with certain health conditionsFor people with liver disease: This drug is processed in your liver. If you have liver disease, your body might process this drug more slowly. This could lead to a buildup of this drug in your body, which could increase your risk for side effects. Your doctor might reduce your dosage of finasteride. For people with prostate cancer: Finasteride can increase the chance of a faster growing or irregular form of prostate cancer. If you have or have had prostate cancer, this drug can make it worse. Warnings for other groupsFor pregnant women: This drug is not prescribed for use in women, and should never be used during pregnancy. For women who are breastfeeding: Finasteride should never be used in breastfeeding women. It is not known if finasteride passes through breast milk. This drug is not prescribed for use in women. For children: The safety and effectiveness of finasteride in children have not been established. This drug is not prescribed for use in children. All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:
Dosage for male pattern hair lossGeneric: Finasteride
Brand: Propecia
Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)
Child dosage (ages 0-17 years) Dosage for people younger than 18 years has not been established. This drug is not prescribed for use in children. Dosage for benign prostatic hyperplasiaGeneric: Finasteride
Brand: Proscar
Adult dosage (ages 18 years and older)
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years) Dosage for people younger than 18 years has not been established. This drug is not prescribed for use in children. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we can not guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Finasteride is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you do not take it as prescribed. If you do not take it at all. You may not see improvement in your condition. If you’re taking this drug for BPH, you may not see an improvement in your BPH symptoms. If you’re taking it for male pattern hair loss, you may not see an improvement in hair loss and hair regrowth. If you take too much. If you take too much, you’re at a higher risk for developing negative reactions. These can include decreased sex drive, trouble getting or keeping an erection, ejaculation disorder, increase in breast size or tenderness, and rash. What to do if you miss a dose. If you forget to take your dose, do not take an extra tablet. Just take the next tablet as usual. How to tell if the drug is working. If you’re taking this drug for BPH, you may notice a decreased urge to urinate and improved urine flow. You should also have a decrease in the feeling that your bladder isn’t completely emptied after you urinate. If you’re taking this drug for male pattern hair loss, you may notice less hair loss and more hair growth on your head. Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes finasteride for you. General
Storage
RefillsA prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. TravelWhen traveling with your medication:
Clinical monitoringYour doctor will monitor your prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels while you’re taking finasteride. Prior authorizationIf you’re taking this drug for male pattern hair loss, your insurance company may need a prior authorization before they approve the prescription and pay for finasteride. Approval is determined on a plan-by-plan basis. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained here in is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Which side effects would the nurse monitor for in a patient who has been administered Finasteride for treatment of an enlarged prostate gland?What side effects can this medication cause?. inability to have or maintain an erection.. decreased sexual desire.. problems with ejaculation (including decreased volume of ejaculate). pain in the testicles.. depression.. Does finasteride cause orthostatic hypotension?There are no reports of overdoses of finasteride, resulting in clinically significant toxicity. However, overdoses could occur as an extension of previously reported adverse drug effects, including orthostatic hypotension.
Which conditions are contraindications for treatment with testosterone?CONTRAINDICATIONS. Known hypersensitivity to the drug.. Males with carcinoma of the breast.. Males with known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate gland.. Women who are pregnant (see PRECAUTIONS, Pregnancy). Patients with serious cardiac, hepatic or renal disease (see WARNINGS). Which drug will be ordered for a patient who presents with erectile dysfunction?Medications for erectile dysfunction
Three medications have been approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction: sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra).
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