Finasteride is a prescription medication used primarily for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Finasteride is also administered under the brand name Propecia, for the treatment of male pattern baldness and hair loss. It is typically taken as a once a day tablet, with or without a meal. While Finasteride does help shrink prostate enlargement (BPH) among most men who take it, the process is slow and the drug relieves symptoms for only about one third of men who take it.
The Steps
Make an appointment to sit down and discuss alternatives to Finasteride with your physician.
Make a list of all your current conditions, and what other drugs you are taking. Also compile a list of side effects which may be occurring, and the reason why you wish to stop your course of Finasteride.
If you are being treated for BPH, ask your physician about the alpha-blocker Terazosin, which has been shown effective in treating BPH.
If your doctor still recommends Finasteride, remember that a few side effects (primarily erection loss), are not permanent and that continuing your course of Finasteride is probably better than surgery.
Tips
If you are taking Finasteride, do not stop taking it without first talking to your doctor, and it is important that you take it around the same time every day.
Warnings
Finasteride is for male use only, and side effects include inability to maintain an erection (rare, only in about 4% of men), decreased sexual desire, testicular pain. If Finasteride has been prescribed for BPH, it is important to know that Finasteride will control your condition but it is not a cure for it, and that it may be more than six months before you start to feel better. Do not stop taking Finasteride without first talking to your doctor.
