Side Effects of Finasteride

Finasteride was initially approved in 1992 as a drug for the treatment of prostate enlargement. Later, in 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. The trade names of finasteride include propecia and proscar. Every drug may show some side effects, and this one is no exception. Here are some possible side effects of finasteride, which have been reported by patients undergoing a treatment on this drug.

Erectile Dysfunction or Impotency
Erectile dysfunction refers to the inability of a man, to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse with his partner. It is also known as ED, and can result in total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erection. For people medicating on finasteride, there is a possibility of erectile dysfunction or impotency. With the consumption of 1 mg tablet of this drug, it has been noticed that around 1.8% people have erectile dysfunction whereas, with 5 mg tablets, the number rises up to 18.5%.

Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is an abnormal development of large mammary glands in males, resulting in male breast enlargement. It is an adverse side effect of finasteride medication, and approximately 2.2% of the people experience it during the treatment. Patients should consult their doctor about the revision of any medications, that are found to cause gynecomastia. Finding an alternative medication that does not cause gynecomastia as a side effect, is also an option that can be considered.

Allergic Reactions
There are several allergic reactions like skin rashes, itching, difficulty in breathing and swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, which are seen in patients on finasteride medication. Besides these, body pain or tenderness, nipple discharge and testicular pain is also reported by the patients sometimes.

Depression
Finasteride has also been linked to depression. Some of the possible reasons for this may be the decreased sex drive or an inability to satisfy the partner. However, there may be other reasons like stress and improper dosage, which may cause depression. The symptoms of depression may vary from person to person, but if one is consistently feeling 'low' for more than two weeks, and the feelings are interfering with his daily life, he may be clinically depressed. In such cases, the doctor should immediately be consulted, and if the problem becomes severe, the medication should be stopped on doctor's advice.

Decreased Libido (Sex Drive)
Researches have been done and it has been concluded that the use of finasteride may result in persistent sexual side effects. It may also result in decreased or abnormal ejaculation. Finasteride is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby and should be avoided by pregnant women. It is advisable for them, not to handle crushed or broken tablets, because the medication could be absorbed through the skin also.

As the side effects are also dependent on the immune system of the patient, not everyone who takes finasteride experiences the side effects mentioned above. Some people are also able to tolerate finasteride well, and if the side effects occur, they can easily be treated by the health care provider. It has also been reported that in controlled clinical trials, nearly 1.2% of patients on this medication discontinued the treatment because of the drug-related sexual adverse experience.