Finasteride is used to treat men who have symptoms of
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern hair loss, also called
androgenetic alopecia. BPH is caused by an enlarged prostate. Men with BPH
usually have difficulty urinating, a decreased flow of urination, hesitation at
the beginning of urination, and a need to get up at night to urinate.
Finasteride will make these symptoms less severe and reduce the chance that
prostate surgery will be needed. It may be used alone or in combination with
other medicines such as an alpha-blocker (doxazosin, Cardura®) to treat BPH.
For men with hair loss, finasteride will increase the number of scalp hairs but
will not increase the amount of body hair.
Finasteride blocks the action of an enzyme called
5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme changes testosterone to another hormone that
causes the prostate to grow. It will increase testosterone levels in the body,
which decreases prostate size. The effect of finasteride will only last as long
as the medicine is taken.
