What Can Proscar (Finasteride) Do For Australian Men

Enlarged prostate has been linked to prostate cancer. Proscar is used to treat symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. It helps to reduce the size of the prostate and may also reduce the need for surgery. Proscar has been shown to provide benefits such as decreased urge to urinate, reducing the feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied, as well as decreasing the need to wake up to urinate in the middle of the night. Proscar essentially works by reducing the amount of DHT that is produced naturally in the body.

What does Proscar treat

It is also commonly used to treat men suffering from male pattern baldness. Increased levels of DHT have been linked to male pattern baldness in men. Once testosterone is converted to DHT and DHT starts flowing through the bloodstream, it can link to receptors on hair follicles in the scalp, causing them to shrink and become less capable of supporting a healthy head of hair. If a man is already genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness (i.e. the father was bald and his father and so forth), this increased level of DHT in the body can work to only speed up and exacerbate the balding. Proscar, which is FDA approved, works to stop the effects of balding caused by rising levels of DHT. Men who have used Proscar to treat hair loss have reported an increase the number of hairs, as well as improvement in hair quality.

What are the side effects

There are several potential side effects of taking Proscar, although the reported occurrence of these effects is often low. However, it is still important to be aware of the risks involved with taking this drug. Men taking Proscar have reported experience tenderness of the breasts as well as enlargement, depression, anxiety, testicular pain, mental fogginess, and sexual side effects including erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and lower ejaculate volume levels. Doctors recommend that NSAIDS- such as Aleeve, Motrin, Advil, etc- be avoided while taking Proscar. There could be an increased risk of occurrence of sexual dysfunction when the two are mixed. If any of these problems exist or worsen, it is recommended that the patient contacts his doctor for further consultation.

How Proscar is prescribed

It’s important to know that doctors only prescribe this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to that patient is greater than the risk of the side effects. It’s important to note once again that most men do not experience these side effects. Research has also shown that men who experience side effects while taking Proscar continued to experience them even after stopping treatment.  While the chances of having an allergic reaction associated with Proscar is considered very low, it is possible to experience rashes and/or itching of the face, tongue, and throat when taking this drug. Men who have chronic liver disease should not take Proscar. Proscar can affect the results of the blood test used to detect prostate cancer (PSA). Studies have shown that Proscar decreases prostate specific antigen by approximately 50% during the first 12 months of use.

In men who have been taking the drug for more than one year, varying adjustment factors may be needed to determine whether PSA is in the normal range. The long term effects are somewhat inconclusive.

Where is Proscar available

Proscar is available by prescription only. The medication is taken orally usually once per day, and can be taken with or without food. It is not recommended that pregnant women handle this drug if the pills are mistakenly broken or crushed. Handling Proscar can increase the chances of birth defects in pregnant women. Proscar should never be used by women or children. To get the most benefit out of Proscar, it should be used regularly. Tablets should be taken at roughly the same time each day. Also, it is recommended that a man should not discontinue use before consulting his doctor. In most men, there is a delayed effect in noticing positive effects from taking Proscar.

In some cases, it can take six to twelve months before a man starts to notice improvement from taking the drug. It should also be noted that if you stop using Proscar, the hair you’ve regrown will eventually fall out. So it is important to continue use of this drug if you want long lasting results.