Is the prostate enlarged? Let's learn about Finasteride pills (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - BPH)

As we age, especially after the age of 50, a common problem that our men face is difficulty urinating. Imagine, frequent urination, having to get up two or three times a night, difficulty starting to urinate, a weak stream of urine, and a feeling that it is not quite finished even after urinating... Are these symptoms familiar to you? The main reason for this can be an enlarged prostate gland. Medically, we call this (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - BPH). So, Finasteride is a very effective drug that doctors often prescribe to treat this condition. Today, we will talk in detail about this drug, its effectiveness, side effects, and things to be careful about while using it.

Simply put, what is this drug called Finasteride?

Finasteride is a medication that is used to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland. Now you may be wondering how this will cure the disease. It's very simple. The prostate gland gradually enlarges as we age due to a hormone in our body. So, what this Finasteride pill does is to reduce the activity of that hormone. Then, gradually, your prostate gland shrinks and its size decreases. When the gland shrinks, the urethra that was being squeezed by it is released, and the difficulty in urinating gradually disappears. This medication belongs to a group of drugs called (5-alpha reductase inhibitors).

This medicine can sometimes be used for other conditions, so if you have any questions, talk to your doctor about it.

Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine

Before prescribing Finasteride, your doctor will want to know your complete health history. So, be sure to tell them if you have any of the following:

• Liver disease: Tell us if you have any past or current liver disease.
• Allergies: If you have an allergy, not just to Finasteride, but to any other medicine, food, preservatives, or dyes, you should disclose it without hiding it.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: This is a very important point. Finasteride is actually a drug for men. However, it is very important to inform your doctor if your wife is pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding a child. There is a special reason for this, which we will talk about later.

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How should I use the medicine exactly?

To get the most out of a medication, it is essential to use it correctly.

• Take this pill with a glass of water.
• Get into the habit of taking your medicine at the same time every day . That way, you're less likely to forget to take it.
• You can take this before or after meals. However, if you feel an upset stomach, take it with food.
• Do not stop taking the medicine until your doctor says, "Enough, stop." It may take several months to see results.
• Overdosage: If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose by mistake, do not panic. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
• If you forget to take a dose: If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once.

This medicine has been prescribed for you only. It has been given to you according to your medical condition and health. Therefore, never share this medicine with others.

Things to be especially careful about when taking medication

There are several important things you should pay attention to while taking Finasteride.

Medical tests and results

Once you start taking the medicine, your doctor will check you regularly to see how it is affecting your body. It may take 3 to 6 months or even longer to see results from this medicine. So don't stop halfway, thinking, 'There's no difference yet.' Be patient and continue using it.

You may need to have certain blood tests while you are taking this medicine. For example, a blood test called PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) is used to check for prostate cancer risk. If you are taking Finasteride, be sure to tell your doctor before having this PSA test. This medicine can change your PSA levels.

Cancer risk

Some studies have shown that taking this medicine may slightly increase the risk of developing some types of prostate cancer (especially high-grade cancer). There is no need to worry about this, but talk openly with your doctor about this risk and what you can do.

Blood donation

This is also very important. Avoid donating blood while you are taking Finasteride. This is because if you donate blood to a pregnant woman, the active ingredient in the drug can pass into her body and harm the unborn baby. Ask your doctor how long it will be safe to donate blood again after stopping the drug.

Special warning for women

This is very important. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle broken or crushed Finasteride tablets. The active ingredient can be absorbed through the skin and can harm the development of an unborn baby boy. If you accidentally handle a broken tablet, wash your hands with soap and water immediately and tell your doctor. However, it is okay to handle an unbroken, whole tablet, as long as it is not swallowed.

What are the possible side effects of the medication?

Like any medicine, Finasteride can cause side effects in some people. However, not everyone gets them. There are two main types of side effects.

This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything different or unusual, please ask your doctor about it.

How to store medicine?

• Always keep medicine out of the reach of children and pets .
• Store at room temperature (below 30 degrees Celsius), in a dry place, away from light.
• Keep the cap of the medicine bottle tightly closed.
• Do not use expired medicines. Dispose of them properly. Ask your doctor or a government hospital about how to dispose of expired medicines.