PROSCAR ® (Finasteride) Tablets
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Patient Information about PROSCAR ®
Generic name: finasteride
PROSCAR is for use by men only.
Please read this leaflet before you start taking PROSCAR. Also, read it each time you renew your prescription, just in case anything has changed. Remember, this leaflet does not take the place of careful discussions with your doctor. You and your doctor should discuss Proscar when you start taking your medication and at regular checkups.
Why your doctor has prescribed PROSCAR
Your doctor has prescribed PROSCAR because you have a medical condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. This occurs only in men.
What is BPH?
BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland. After age 50, most men develop enlarged prostates. The prostate is located below the bladder. As the prostate enlarges, it may slowly restrict the flow of urine. This can lead to symptoms such as:
- a weak or interrupted urinary stream
- a feeling that you cannot empty your bladder completely
- a feeling of delay or hesitation when you start to urinate
- a need to urinate often, especially at night
- a feeling that you must urinate right away.
In some men, BPH can lead to serious problems, including urinary tract infections, a sudden inability to pass urine (acute urinary retention), as well as the need for surgery.
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Treatment options for BPH
There are three main treatment options for symptoms of BPH:
- Program of monitoring or "Watchful Waiting". If a man has an enlarged prostate gland and no
symptoms or if his symptoms do not bother him, he and his doctor may decide on a program of
monitoring which would include regular checkups, instead of medication or surgery.
- Medication. Your doctor may prescribe Proscar for BPH. See "What PROSCAR does" below.
- Surgery. Some patients may need surgery. Your doctor can suggest several different surgical
procedures for BPH. Which procedure is best depends on your symptoms and medical condition.
There are two main treatment options to reduce the risk of serious problems due to BPH:
- Medication. Your doctor may prescribe Proscar for BPH. See "What PROSCAR does" below.
- Surgery. Some patients may need surgery. Your doctor can suggest several different surgical
procedures for BPH. Which procedure is best depends on your symptoms and medical condition.
What PROSCAR does
PROSCAR lowers levels of a key hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is a major cause of prostate growth. Lowering DHT leads to shrinkage of the enlarged prostate gland in most men. This can lead to gradual improvement in urine flow and symptoms over the next several months. Proscar will help reduce the risk of developing a sudden inability to pass urine and the need for surgery. However, since each case of BPH is different, you should know that:
- Even though the prostate shrinks, you may NOT notice an improvement in urine flow or symptoms.
- You may need to take PROSCAR for six (6) months or more to see whether it improves your
symptoms.
- Therapy with PROSCAR may reduce your risk for a sudden inability to pass urine and the need for
surgery.
What you need to know while taking PROSCAR
- You must see your doctor regularly. While taking Proscar , you must have regular checkups.
Follow your doctor's advice about when to have these checkups.
- About side effects. Like all prescription drugs, PROSCAR may cause side effects. Side effects due to
PROSCAR may include impotence (an inability to have an erection) or less desire for sex.
Some men taking PROSCAR may have changes or problems with ejaculation, such as a decrease in the amount of semen released during sex. This decrease in the amount of semen does not appear to interfere with normal sexual function. In some cases these side effects went away while the patient continued to take Proscar.
In addition, some men may have breast enlargement and/or tenderness. You should promptly report to your doctor any changes in your breasts such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge. Some men have reported allergic reactions such as rash, itching, hives, and swelling of the lips and face. Rarely, testicular pain has been reported.
You should discuss side effects with your doctor before taking Proscar and anytime you think you are having a side effect.
- Checking for prostate cancer. Your doctor has prescribed Proscar for symptomatic BPH and not
for cancer but a man can have BPH and prostate cancer at the same time. Doctors usually
recommend that men be checked for prostate cancer once a year when they turn 50 (or 40 if a family
member has had prostate cancer). These checks should continue while you take PROSCAR.
PROSCAR is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
- About Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA).
Your doctor may have done a blood test called PSA. Proscar can alter PSA values. For more information, talk to your doctor.
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A warning about PROSCAR and pregnancy.
PROSCAR is for use by MEN only.
Women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use PROSCAR. They should also not handle
crushed or broken tablets of PROSCAR.
If a woman who is pregnant with a male baby absorbs the active ingredient in PROSCAR after oral use or through the skin, it may cause the male baby to be born with abnormalities of the sex organs.
PROSCAR tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets are not broken or crushed.
If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active ingredient in PROSCAR, a doctor should be consulted.
Remember, these warnings apply only when the woman is pregnant or could potentially be pregnant.
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How to take PROSCAR
Follow your doctor's advice about how to take Proscar . You must take it every day. You may take it with or between meals. To avoid forgetting to take PROSCAR, it may be helpful to take it at the same time every day.
Your doctor may prescribe Proscar along with another medicine, an alpha-blocker called doxazosin, to help you better manage your BPH symptoms.
Do not share PROSCAR with anyone else; it was prescribed only for you. Keep PROSCAR and all medicines out of the reach of children.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 'PROSCAR' AND BPH, TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR. IN ADDITION, TALK TO YOUR PHARMACIST OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
MERCK & CO., INC.
Whitehouse Station , NJ 08889 , USA
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