Finast 5 mg Tablets

Active Ingredient	Finasteride
Type	Hair Loss

 

How Does It Work?

Finast 5 mg contains Finasteride, which decreases the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. It is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase converts the hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and causes hair follicles to shrink. DHT binds with the receptors of the hair follicles and weakens them over time.

This disturbs hair’s natural growth cycle, leading to hair loss. Finast 5 mg blocks the action of 5-alpha reductase and decreases the amount of DHT in the body. This promotes hair regrowth and decreases prostate size. After some time, new hairs can be seen growing in their original place.

Finast Tablet Uses

It is used for the treatment of the following conditions:

• Androgenetic Alopecia – a condition that causes hair loss in men, ultimately leading to baldness.
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – an age-related disorder that causes the prostate to increase in size, thereby leading to urination problems.

Finast 5mg Dosage

It is recommended to be taken once daily. This medicine can be taken with or without food.
For patients suffering from Androgenetic Alopecia, the effects of this medication can be experienced within the first 3-4 months. However, the rate of hair regrowth increases with time, and it can take around 6-9 months for the results to appear.
The effects of this medication may vary depending on various factors such as age, metabolism, lifestyles, health conditions, etc.

Missed Dosage: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. Unless it’s time for your next scheduled dose, in that case, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. Make sure you consume the drug daily; abrupt termination of the course will lead to hair loss.

Overdose: An overdose of the drug can lead to various side effects. If an overdose is suspected, seek medical help immediately.

Important Advisory

Before you take Finast 5 mg, it is advisable to consult your doctor:

• If you have prostate cancer.
• If you are allergic to Finasteride or any other medications.
• If you suffer from urethral stricture.
• If you have urination problems.
• If you have a bladder muscle disorder.
• If you have kidney or liver disease.

Side Effects

Common side effects of Finast 5 mg include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Runny nose
• Itching
• Rashes
• Hives
• Abnormal ejaculation
• Loss of interest in sex
• Rapid weight gain
• Swelling or tenderness in the breast
• Swelling in hands or feet
• Chills or cold sweats
• Abdominal pain

 

If problems persist for a long time, contact your doctor immediately.

Drug Interactions

Certain drugs are known to interact with Finast 5 mg and can alter the way it works. If you take any recreational or any other form of drugs to treat your existing illnesses or for any other purposes, let your doctor know about them. Here is a list of drugs that can interact with Finast.

• Anticoagulants such as heparin and warfarin
• Beta-blockers such as propranolol
• Antipyrine
• Diltiazem
• Antifungal medications such as itraconazole
• Theophylline
• St. John’s Wort
• Digoxin
• HIV Protease inhibitors such as indinavir, nelfinavir, and ritonavir

Interaction with alcohol

Interaction with alcohol has not been studied. Talk to your doctor about potential interactions.

Storage Instructions

• Keep the medicines out of reach of children.
• Keep the pills away from direct heat, moisture, and sunlight.
• Once the pack is opened, store the pills in an airtight container.
• Do not consume the pills past the expiration date.

Substitutes Available

FINAX 1 MG TABLETS
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
MINOXIDIL TABLETS
Generic
FINPECIA 1 MG
Cipla Ltd.
FINCAR 5 MG
Cipla Ltd.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is Finast safe to use?

Finast 5 mg is an approved oral drug for treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Androgenetic Alopecia in men. It is safe to use in the long term.

Q2. How long does it take for Finast to regrow hair?

Ans. Finast tablets are recommended to be taken once daily. The effects of this medicine can be experienced within the first 3-4 months. However, it can take around 6-9 months to experience the full impact of this medicine as it takes time for the hair follicles to produce new hairs.

Q3. Is Finasteride bad for the kidneys?

Ans. Some studies suggest that Finasteride can have an adverse effect on the kidneys. Finasteride can increase the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI), thereby affecting renal tubular function. Consult your doctor for detailed information.

Q4. How do I know if Finasteride is working?

Ans. The initial course of treatment causes increased shedding of hair during the first 3-6 months. It is a clear indication that the medicine is working. Hair shedding usually slows down after some time, and you’re likely to experience potential hair regrowth.

Q5. Is there an alternative to Finasteride?

Ans. Minoxidil is an FDA-approved medication for hair loss in both men and women. It increases the blood flow to the hair follicles and provides the necessary nutrients required for hair growth. While it is an excellent alternative to Finasteride, it works best when the two medicines are taken in combination.

Q6. How long should you take Finast?

Ans. It would be best if you continued to take these tablets (for at least 3-6 months), abrupt termination of the medication will lead to hair loss.

Q7. How is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia treated with Finast?

Ans. Finast contains Finasteride that decreases the amount of the DHT in the body and blocks its production at the source. Thus, the prostate shrinks in size and is no longer stimulated. It improves the symptoms and reduces the need for surgery.

Q8. Fincar vs Finast – what’s the difference?

Ans. Both these medicines contain the same ingredient Finasteride which is required for treating hair loss in men. The only difference is their manufacturers – Fincar is manufactured by Cipla Ltd. whereas Finast is manufactured by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.

References

• Zito PM, Bistas KG, Syed K. Finasteride. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513329/
• Mysore V, Shashikumar BM. Guidelines on the use of Finasteride in androgenetic alopecia. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2016 Mar-Apr;82(2):128-34. DOI: 10.4103/0378-6323.177432. PMID: 26924401. https://ijdvl.com/guidelines-on-the-use-of-finasteride-in-androgenetic-alopecia/
• Gupta AK, Venkataraman M, Talukder M, Bamimore MA. Finasteride for hair loss: a review. J Dermatolog Treat. 2022 Jun;33(4):1938-1946. DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2021.1959506. Epub 2021 Aug 2. PMID: 34291720. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09546634.2021.1959506?journalCode=ijdt20
• Tackling J, Fink HA, Macdonald R, Rutks I, Wilt TJ. Finasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Oct 6;2010(10):CD006015. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006015.pub3. PMID: 20927745; PMCID: PMC8908761.
  https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006015.pub3/full
• Traish AM. Health Risks Associated with Long-Term Finasteride and Dutasteride Use: It’s Time to Sound the Alarm. World J Mens Health. 2020 Jul;38(3):323-337. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.200012. Epub 2020 Mar 20. PMID: 32202088; PMCID: PMC7308241. https://wjmh.org/DOIx.php?id=10.5534/wjmh.200012