Finasteride
Prescription status is set country by country — the label where you live is the one that applies.
Beta: the medication section is still being tested, and its data may contain errors. Do not rely on it for a decision about your own treatment.
Finasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. Lower DHT levels shrink prostate tissue over months and slow androgen-driven thinning of scalp hair. It is used for benign prostatic enlargement and for male pattern hair loss.
A usual adult range, not a national label — the dose and the timing differ by country and by product.
Approved uses differ by country — some of these may be off-label or unapproved where you live.
It can be taken with or without food, and its effect builds gradually rather than immediately, so benefit is judged over months. It roughly halves the PSA blood result, so any lab or urologist interpreting a prostate check needs to know the drug is being taken, otherwise a rising value can be masked. Testosterone and SHBG may shift while DHT falls, which is why they appear as markers worth following. Tablets should not be handled by a pregnant woman, since exposure can affect the development of a male fetus.
Reduced libido, erectile difficulty, mood changes, breast tenderness or a lump, or any new prostate symptom deserve a doctor's review rather than a private decision to stop. A PSA result read without accounting for this drug should also be rechecked with a doctor.
Reference information, not medical advice. Discuss any change with your doctor.