Propecia (Finasteride) Drug Information: Medication Guide and Patient Information

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May 27, 2012

Propecia

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What are causes of hair loss?

There are many causes of scalp hair loss, and they do differ in men and women. This article will cover the common ones. Studies show that losing up to 100-150 hairs per day is normal. Human hair naturally grows in three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. Anagen is the active or growing phase. Catagen is a fairly short phase of the natural hair cycle during which hairs begin to break down. Telogen is the resting phase. The hairs that are shed daily are often in the resting or late phase in the hair cycle. Normally, about 10% of the scalp hairs are in the resting or telogen phase at any time. These hairs are not growing and are getting prepared for cyclic shedding.

In general, most hair loss is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Frequently, hair may simply thin as a result of predetermined genetic factors, family history, and the overall aging process. Many men and women may n...

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PATIENT INFORMATION

PROPECIA
(Pro-pee-sha)
(finasteride) Tablets

PROPECIA®is for use by MEN ONLY and should NOT be used by women or children.

Read this Patient Information before you start taking PROPECIAand each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is PROPECIA?

PROPECIA is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia).

It is not known if PROPECIA works for a receding hairline on either side of and above your forehead (temporal area).

PROPECIA is not for use by women and children.

Who should not take PROPECIA?

Do not take PROPECIA if you:

are pregnant or may become pregnant. PROPECIA may harm your unborn baby.
- PROPECIA tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the medicine during handling, as long as the tablets are not broken or crushed. Females who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not come in contact with broken or crushed PROPECIA tablets. If a pregnant woman comes in contact with crushed or broken PROPECIA tablets, wash the contact area right away with soap and water. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active ingredient in PROPECIA, a healthcare provider should be consulted.
- If a woman who is pregnant with a male baby swallows or comes in contact with the medicine in PROPECIA, the male baby may be born with sex organs that are not normal.
are allergic to any of the ingredients in PROPECIA. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in PROPECIA.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking PROPECIA? Before taking PROPECIA, tell your healthcare provider if you:

have any other medical conditions, including problems with your prostate or liver

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take PROPECIA?

Take PROPECIA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
You may take PROPECIA with or without food.
If you forget to take PROPECIA do not take an extra tablet. Just take the next tablet as usual.

PROPECIA will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day.

What are the possible side effects of PROPECIA?

decrease in your blood Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. PROPECIA can affect a blood test called PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) for the screening of prostate cancer. If you have a PSA test done you should tell your healthcare provider that you are taking PROPECIA because PROPECIA decreases PSA levels. Changes in PSA levels will need to be evaluated by your healthcare provider. Any increase in follow-up PSA levels from their lowest point may signal the presence of prostate cancer and should be evaluated, even if the test results are still within the normal range for men not taking PROPECIA. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you have not been taking PROPECIA as prescribed because this may affect the PSA test results. For more information, talk to your healthcare provider.
There may be an increased risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer in men taking finasteride at 5 times the dose of PROPECIA.

The most common side effects of PROPECIA include:

decrease in sex drive
trouble getting or keeping an erection
a decrease in the amount of semen

The following have been reported in general use with PROPECIA:

breast tenderness and enlargement. Tell your healthcare provider about any changes in your breasts such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge.
depression;
decrease in sex drive that continued after stopping the medication;
allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives and swelling of the lips and face;
problems with ejaculation that continued after stopping medication;
testicular pain;
difficulty in achieving an erection that continued after stopping the medication;
male infertility and/or poor quality of semen.
in rare cases, male breast cancer.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of PROPECIA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store PROPECIA?

Store PROPECIA at room temperature between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C).
Keep PROPECIA in a closed container and keep PROPECIA tablets dry (protect from moisture).

Keep PROPECIA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of PROPECIA.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in this Patient Information leaflet. Do not use PROPECIA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give PROPECIA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.

This Patient Information leaflet summarizes the most important information about PROPECIA. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about PROPECIA that is written for health professionals. For more information, call 1-888-6372522.

What are the ingredients in PROPECIA?

Active ingredient: finasteride.

Inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, sodium starch glycolate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, titanium dioxide, magnesium stearate, talc, docusate sodium, yellow ferric oxide, and red ferric oxide.

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Last reviewed on RxList: 4/19/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.