Talk:Finasteride

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[edit] poison

Thanks to whoever deleted the "Beware: Propecia is pure poision..." section... I was about to delete it, but you beat me to it! -cmsmith81 (I am not signed in).

  • "In internet discussion groups, some men report side-effects lasting long after cessation of the drug, such as difficulty concentrating, testicular pain, and frequent urination. It is uncertain whether these problems can be attributed to finasteride."

[edit] gynecomastia

Can anyone confirm this observation? Does gynecomastia really last long after discontinuing Finasteride? As far as I remember, everything else I've read indicates side-effects stop after usage is stopped. That's also what the clinical trials reported. --Nectarflowed T 08:53, 17 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Well, gynecomastia is often irreversible. The internet news groups were an attempt at POV by an anon. Feel free to remove it if you can't find the evidence. JFW | T@lk 01:21, 19 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Prostate cancer

Sfahey, the article now says Finasteride is used to treat prostate cancer, but also increases incidences of aggressive prostate cancer. What was your source for this?--Nectarflowed T 23:52, 20 July 2005 (UTC)

I've added this. It is still being worked out, but apparently even though it increases the incidence of the worst type, overall it decreases mortality from prostate cancers. This was demonstrated at the higher dose, the one NOT used for hair loss. Sfahey 01:19, 22 July 2005 (UTC)
Thanks. The dosage information, though, isn't in the current reference. Do you have another reference? --Nectarflowed T 02:06, 22 July 2005 (UTC)
see journal skinMED (3-4/05,pp 67-68), which can be found at <www.lejacq.com> by searching for article #3978

It says in the Propecia drug leaflet, that Prostate Cancer is less likely whilst taking the drug, but of those who do get it it is more likely to be agressive. I don't think the article makes this clear in the opening section, that this is a downside. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.150.153.10 (talk) 15:13, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Re Par.3..."Further, finasteride increased the specificity and selectivity of prostate cancer detection, thus, a seemingly increased rate of high Gleason grade tumor."

  This statement is inaccurate and critically misleading.  A Gleason score (not "grade") is determined by a trained technician or physician examining, by microscope, tissue samples obtained by biopsy.  There is no way a drug (as opposed to a selective stain) can influence this visual evaluation of the "aggressiveness" of cancer cells which are present.  Thus, finasteride increases (not "seemingly increases") the probability of a high Gleason score and a prostate cancer's aggressiveness.

<Wolf Lorber (not registered).

What about this - "One hypothesized explanation for this increase is that finasteride reduced prostate volume, leading to detection of more high-grade tumors due to increased sampling density." http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/99/18/1366Pondle 15:56, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Autoimmune disease

Some anon added autoimmune disease as a complication[1]. Not a single study is reported on PubMed. Sounds like a myth. The mechanism is also not explained, nor is there any truth in his assertions that Alzheimer's, heart disease and skin cancer are "autoimmune diseases". JFW | T@lk 14:46, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Just a question

"It appears that Finasteride can pass into the semen of men, thus, at certain dosages, caution should be used to avoid ingestion of semen during oral sex if a woman is pregnant or may become pregnant." Well, is this true? So does this actually mean that it can be harmful at conception if used by the male? --James Bond 02:00, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

According to Merck: "Yes, you can take PROPECIA if you and your wife are trying to conceive or if your wife is currently pregnant. Contact with the semen from a man being treated with PROPECIA is not a risk to the unborn child of a pregnant woman." http://www.propecia.com/finasteride/propecia/consumer/facts/faq.jsp


(Please sign your talk page entries. I didn't write the paragraph above.) This doesn't actually answer the technical question of "does finasteride pass into semen", but from a fetal-safety point of view, it doesn't seem to be an issue, so I'm going to rephrase that statement in the main page. -- JdwNYC 15:55, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Depression

Finasteride has been linked to depression, this should be included

http://www.leaddiscovery.co.uk/admin%20gu/files/14467.asp

http://www.hairsite4.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=10&topic_id=5980&mode=full —The preceding unsigned comment was added by My phantom limb (talk • contribs) 14:02, 4 March 2007 (UTC).

This could be due to a confounding variable - hair loss.Pondle 10:58, 12 August 2007 (UTC)

The two cited studies describe moderate to severe clinical depression as classified using verifiable tests (see sources) in a majority (!) of examined cases. This is very different from frustration about hair loss. Personally, I have quit Finasteride after only 2 months due to recurring symptoms of depression the like of which I had never even imagined before. I would not have related this to Finasteride if I had not seen other users on internet forums reporting similar experiences. Even if many may use Finasteride without any effect on their mental well-being, depression should not be taken lightly as a possible side-effect, even though the producer's information leaflet does not (yet?) mention it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 149.225.92.116 (talk) 22:27, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

You see a lot of claims about alleged Propecia side effects on internet forums. The depression study in question was not a placebo-controlled trial, so does not meet the scientific 'gold standard'.Pondle (talk) 14:53, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] about gynecomastia

I removed the little reference that propecia cause gynecomastia. Feel free to revert my change once you can show a serious reference about that claim. Paldiski 04:59, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

It is a POSSIBLE side effect...it doesn't ALWAYS cause it. It is one of the listed possible side effects when you purchase the medication. That little form the pharmacy gives you with each medication explaining everything about it, it is listed in there. I am taking that med so I can attest that it is listed in that form. I think it deserves mentioning since it is being advised as being a listed side effect by every pharmacy that distributes it.164.214.1.54 14:34, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

It is possible, but the clinical trials showed no difference between the incidence of gyno in the treatment and placebo groups.Pondle 10:59, 12 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] generic

AUROFINA? There apprears to be a generic vesion of PROPECIA 1mg made by Cipla (India) http://www.mail-rx.com/shop/product.php?productid=16413&cat=251&page=1 This product is sold under the name AUROFINA-1. Code No: MH/DRUGS/KD-19. Does anyone have more information? Should it be added to the generic section?

i believe there is now a generic finasteride, at least for the 5mg. there may or may not also be a generic 1mg (at least in canada?). it woudl be helpful to include this information NorthernLad79

The Proscar (5mg) patent has expired, and there are now legit generic versions available. The only 1mg generics available are Indian versions. Indian patent law allows local drug companies to copy drugs and sell them in the domestic market.Pondle 11:00, 12 August 2007 (UTC)

Does the generic version that you mentioned above - aurofina-1 actually work as it is not available in the UK, and the hair loss clinic i visited have said that it will probably be ineffective, however, they may just be saying this so i am co-erced into purchasing their £400 propecia. i am very unsure. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.47.83.135 (talk) 12:49, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Prosmin

Prosmin is another brand under which finasteride is sold

As per: http://www.unitedpharmacies.com/Prosmin_Finasteride___5mg_30_Tablets_p_188.html

Could someone add this to the article? Thanks ;-)

[edit] ref?

In the text a reference is made to a paper Rossi 2004, however, in the reerences list, this is not mentioned. What could it be?

80.221.61.231 20:40, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

That's probably a reference to the Australian Medicines Handbook. I'll check the history and see if I can track it down. Fvasconcellos (t·c) 01:29, 28 October 2007 (UTC)
Got it. I couldn't find it because it was ported over from Baldness treatments in August 2006; that article, however, didn't have the reference either, because its content had been copied and pasted from Baldness in May 2005. Thank God for page histories :) Fvasconcellos (t·c) 01:36, 28 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] protection

Could a protection template be added to the article, and the reasoning be stated here on the talk page? 132.205.44.5 (talk) 05:16, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

OK, I've added the template. This article has been semi-protected to due persistent long-term vandalism. --Ed (Edgar181) 12:04, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

And not just vandalism: spam and junkpiling. JFW | T@lk 12:20, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Proscar and Pregnancy

I am an RN and I am about 9 weeks pregnant. I crushed Proscar, put it into a med cup, added water to disolve it to put it down a peg tube. Before doing so, it settled to the bottom of the med cup and I put my pinky finger into the cup and stirred it so that it would not clog up the peg tube. (Before becoming aware of the risks.) 1 hour after, I began having severe cramping. I am worried. What is the rist of birth defects to my baby, with the med crushed in water? I read it absorbs through the skin. Is my risk greatly decreased since the crushed tablet was disolved in water and my skin is in tact? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.181.4.47 (talk) 00:35, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

You should seek professional medical advice.Pondle (talk) 20:32, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

There appears to be a typo in Finasteride---Brand Names: Here's the quote: "There is 1 mg of Finasteride in Propecia and 5 mg in Proscar." I believe the '5 mg' should be 0.5 mg, that is 1/2 mg, instead of FIVE mg.

No Proscar is a 5 milligram dose, Propecia 1 milligram Pondle (talk) 22:28, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Antiandrogen

Reference 11 on this page states "Finasteride has no affinity for the androgen receptor and does not act as an anti-androgen, nor does it have androgenic, estrogenic, antiestrogenic, progestational, or other steroidal properties." Clearly this wikipedia entry is in error. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Flying Hamster (talk • contribs) 10:40, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

No this statement is made by the manufacturer. Finasteride is a specific 5AR inhibitor rather than a general anti-androgen.Pondle (talk) 11:49, 12 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] What kind of birth defects occur?

The article does not go into much detail concerning the birth defects that may result from a woman's contact with finasteride while she is with child. The article, however, does not go into a lot of detail on which defects occur. Are the birth defects typically intersex conditions such as non-virilization, or some other type of defect?

Please let me know at your earliest convenience. Pine (talk) 18:45, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

The Proscar product information simply states that if a pregnant woman comes into contact with the drug, "it may affect the normal development of the baby’s sex organs". Pondle (talk) 11:44, 12 April 2008 (UTC)