Generic propecia - Finasteride

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Propecia can be taken with or without food.

It is important to use Propecia regularly to get the most benefit. You may need to take Propecia daily for three months or more before you see a benefit. Propecia can only work over the long term if you continue taking it. If the drug has not worked for you in twelve months, further treatment is unlikely to be of benefit. If you stop taking Propecia, you will likely lose the hair you have gained within 12 months of stopping treatment. You should discuss this with your doctor. Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you notice any breast lumps, pain, nipple discharge, or other breast changes. These may be signs of male breast cancer.

Less serious side effects may include:

• feeling like you might pass out;
• swelling in your hands or feet;
• pain in the testicles;
• impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm;
• abnormal ejaculation;
• swelling or tenderness in your breasts;
• dizziness, weakness;
• headache;
• runny nose; or
• skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

General: Caution should be used in the administration of finasteride in patients with liver function abnormalities, as finasteride is metabolized in the liver.

Other causes of alopecia should be ruled out prior to prescribing finasteride. Efficacy and duration of treatment should be assessed periodically by the treating physician.

Exposure to Finasteride–Risk to Male Fetus: Women should not handle crushed or broken tablets of finasteride when they are or may potentially be pregnant because of the possibility of absorption of finasteride and the subsequent potential risk to a male fetus (see Warnings, Pregnancy and Lactation). Finasteride tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets have not been broken or crushed.

Postmenopausal Women: Results of a 1-year placebo-controlled study, enrolling 137 healthy post-menopausal women with androgenetic alopecia (age range: 41 to 60 years), showed no benefit of treatment with finasteride 1 mg daily on scalp hair growth.

Geriatrics: Clinical studies with finasteride have not been conducted in elderly men with male pattern hair loss.

Children: Finasteride is not indicated for use in children.