Precautions
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Women and children should not use this medicine. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle crushed or open capsules. Finasteride can be absorbed through the skin and cause birth defects in male babies. If a woman does come in contact with this medicine, the affected area should be washed right away with soap and water.
Do not use this medicine if you are also using riociguat or a nitrate medicine, often used to treat angina (chest pain). Nitrate medicines include nitroglycerin, isosorbide, Imdur®, Nitro-Bid®, Nitrostat®, Nitro-Dur®, Transderm Nitro®, Nitrol® Ointment, and Nitrolingual® Spray. Some illegal ("street") drugs called "poppers" (eg, amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, or nitrite) also contain nitrates. If you need to use a nitrate medicine, take it at least 48 hours after your last dose of this medicine.
This medicine may affect the results of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, which may be used to detect prostate cancer. Make sure you tell all of your doctors that you are using this medicine.
It is important to tell your doctor about any heart problems you have now or may have had in the past. This medicine can cause serious side effects in patients with heart problems.
This medicine will not prevent prostate cancer but may increase your risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer. Tell your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.
Check with your doctor right away if you have a sudden decrease in hearing or loss of hearing, which may be accompanied by dizziness and ringing in the ears.
If you experience sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, contact your doctor immediately.
If you experience a prolonged erection for more than 4 hours or a painful erection for more than 6 hours, contact your doctor immediately. This condition may require prompt medical treatment to prevent serious and permanent damage to your penis.
This medicine may cause serious allergic and skin reactions, including angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and exfoliative dermatitis. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, cracked, dry, or scaly skin, chills, cough, crusting, irritation, or reddening of the skin, diarrhea, itching, large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs, joint or muscle pain, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swelling, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol (eg, 5 or more glasses of wine or 5 or more shots of whiskey) when taking this medicine. When taken in excess, alcohol can increase your chances of getting a headache or dizziness, increase your heart rate, or lower your blood pressure.
Some men who use this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children). Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Portions of this document last updated: May 01, 2024
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