Active Ingredient | Finasteride |
Type | Hair Loss |
How Does It Work?
Finax 1 mg falls under the class of drugs known as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. It contains Finasteride which blocks the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase and aids hair regrowth. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The hormone DHT binds with the receptors of the hair follicles and weakens them over time. This disturbs hair’s natural growth cycle, thereby causing hair follicles to shrink. It leads to hair loss (which further leads to baldness) and an enlarged prostate. Finax 1 mg stops the action of 5-alpha reductase and decreases the amount of DHT in the body. This leads to increased hair regrowth and a decreased prostate size.
Uses
It is prescribed for the treatment of the following conditions:
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – is an age-related prostate gland enlargement disease that causes urination problems.
Androgenetic Alopecia – a disorder that causes hair loss in men, ultimately leading to baldness.
Dosage
It is recommended to be taken once daily. This pill can be taken with or without food.
- For patients suffering from Androgenetic Alopecia, the effects of this medicine can be experienced within the first 3-4 months of its usage. However, the full effects can be experienced in 6-9 months.
- For patients suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), the effects can be experienced in 6 months.
A daily dosage of the drug is essential to experience desired results. The effects of this medication may vary depending on various factors such as age, metabolism, health conditions, etc.
Missed Dosage: If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. Unless it’s time for your next scheduled dose, in that case, skip the missed dose. Do not double dose to make up for the missed dose. Make sure you follow a daily dosage as hair loss occurs again with abrupt termination of the medication.
Overdose: Overdosing can lead to serious side effects. If an overdose is suspected, contact your doctor immediately.
Important Advisory
Before you take Finax 1 mg, let your doctor know:
- If you have kidney or liver disease.
- If you have prostate cancer.
- If you are allergic to Finasteride or Dutasteride.
- If you have urination problems.
- If you have stricture of the urethra.
- If you have a bladder muscle disorder.
Side Effects
Common side effects include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Rashes
- Dizziness
- Breast tenderness
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased semen
- Loss of sexual interest
- Swelling in hands or feet
- Pain in testicles
- Itching
- Hives
- Runny nose
If any of these side effects persist for an extended period, seek medical help immediately.
Drug Interactions
Certain drugs can interact with Finax 1 mg and alter how it works. If you take any recreational or other 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 Finax 1 mg
- Warfarin
- Propranolol
- Antipyrine
- Diltiazem
- Antifungal medications such as itraconazole
- Theophylline
- St. John’s Wort
- Digoxin
- HIV Protease inhibitors such as nelfinavir and ritonavir
Interaction with alcohol
Interaction with alcohol hasn’t been studied. However, 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 their expiration date.
Substitutes Available
FINAST 5 MG TABLETS
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
MINOXIDIL TABLETS
Generic
FINPECIA 1 MG
Cipla Ltd.
FINCAR 5 MG
Cipla Ltd.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Is Finax safe?
Ans. Finax is an approved oral drug for treating enlarged prostate and male pattern baldness. It is safe to use in the long term.
Q. Is Finax good for hair growth?
Ans. Finax is an effective hair loss treatment for men suffering from Androgenetic Alopecia. It increases hair growth and prevents further hair loss. By following a daily dose of this medicine, significant results can be experienced within 3-4 months.
Q. Is Finax a steroid?
Ans. Finax is a synthetic androstane steroid and 4-azasteroid. It is an analogue of steroid hormones like testosterone and DHT.
Q. Can Finasteride regrow lost hair?
Ans. Finasteride blocks the action of DHT (the hormone responsible for hair loss) at its source. It prevents the maturing of hair follicles and helps keep your hair. It can potentially regrow lost hair. A 2-year clinical trial concluded that 66% of men who took Finasteride experienced visible hair regrowth at the vertex.
Q.Who should not use Finax?
Ans. Finax shouldn’t be used by pregnant women or women trying to have a baby. This medicine can cause congenital disabilities in male babies.
Q. Does the Finax tablet increase hair count and thickness of the hair?
Ans. Yes! It increases hair count and thickness of hair. It enhances the overall health of hair and the appearance of the scalp after treatment.
Q. If I increase the dose of the Finax tablet, will it give me quick and better results?
Ans. Take the medication as prescribed by the doctor. Increasing the dose of this medicine won’t lead to any significant changes in the scalp. Instead, it can cause serious side effects.
Q. Can the use of Finax tablets affect my sex life?
Ans. Using Finax tablets in the long term can lead to decreased sexual drive, inability to achieve or maintain an erection, and reduced semen count. If you encounter any such symptoms, talk to your doctor, as it may affect your sex life.
Q. Is Finax worth taking?
Ans. Various studies conducted on the efficacy and safety of Finax use show that it is safe to use over the long term. The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial study of 19,000 men concluded that there aren’t long-term consequences of the medicine.
Q. Finax and weight gain – what’s the relation?
Ans, While Finax is known to cause weight gain in some patients, there isn’t major medical evidence that supports this claim. However, patients taking antiandrogens are often cautioned about the rare side effect of weight gain.
Q. Finax vs Propecia – which is better?
Ans. Both medicines contain the same ingredient Finasteride. However, Finax is a relatively cheaper option than Propecia for the treatment of hair loss.
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
- Tacklind 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 - Fertig RM, Gamret AC, Darwin E, Gaudi S. Sexual side effects of 5-α-reductase inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride: A comprehensive review. Dermatol Online J. 2017 Nov 11;23(11):13030/qt24k8q743. PMID: 29447628.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29447628/ - Piraccini BM, Blume-Peytavi U, Scarci F, Jansat JM, Falqués M, Otero R, Tamarit ML, Galván J, Tebbs V, Massana E; Topical Finasteride Study Group. Efficacy and safety of topical finasteride spray solution for male androgenetic alopecia: a phase III, randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022 Feb;36(2):286-294. doi: 10.1111/jdv.17738. Epub 2021 Oct 25. PMID: 34634163; PMCID: PMC9297965. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jdv.17738
- Shapiro J, Kaufman KD. Use of finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss). J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 2003 Jun;8(1):20-3. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2003.12167.x. PMID: 12894990. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15529357
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Read a lot about the potential side effects of Finasteride. Was skeptical at first but thought of using it as my hairs were shedding severely. It’s been like 7 months since I started using Finax 1 mg and I’m happy with the results so far.