Finasteride
Drug Class
Antiandrogen
A recent analysis published in the British Medical Journal found that finasteride may reduce hirsutism compared with placebo and seems as effective as spironolactone or cyproterone acetate–ethinylestradiol. The authors also stated that finasteride plus cyproterone acetate–ethinylestradiol may be more effective than cyproterone acetate–ethinylestradiol alone at reducing hirsutism.
Trade Names
Propecia® and Proscar®.
Dosage and Administration
Oral: tablets
Propecia® 1mg
Proscar® 5 mg
Safety Information
Adverse Effects
Finasteride is generally well tolerated; reported adverse reactions were typically mild and transient and included rash and breast tenderness.
Severe side-effects include allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); breast enlargement; lumps; pain, or tenderness; depression; nipple discharge.
FDA Pregnancy Indication: X
Finasteride is contraindicated in women when they are or may potentially be pregnant, as it may cause abnormalities of the external genitalia of a male fetus.
Major Drug Interactions
No drug interactions of clinical importance have been identified. Finasteride does not appear to affect the cytochrome P450-linked drug metabolizing enzyme system. Compounds that have been tested in man have included antipyrine, digoxin, propranolol, theophylline, and warfarin and no clinically meaningful interactions were found.
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Treatment of Hirsutism:
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