Finast 5: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Finast, Finast 5 mg, Finast 5 tablet, Finasteride 5 mg
Finast 5 is a prescription tablet containing 5 mg of finasteride, used to treat an enlarged prostate in men. It lowers a hormone that makes the prostate grow, and it can ease symptoms over months. It can cause sexual side effects such as erection problems. Women who are or may be pregnant must not handle crushed or broken tablets.
- Active ingredient
- Finasteride 5 mg
- Type of medicine
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors
- Used for
- Enlarged prostate
- Starts working in
- It usually takes several months to notice a change
- Effect lasts
- Taken once a day for the long term; symptoms often return if stopped
- With or without food
- Can be taken with or without food; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- Alcohol
- No special rule is stated; ask your doctor
- Pregnancy
- Not for women. A woman who is or may be pregnant must not take it or handle crushed or broken tablets
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
What is Finast 5 used for?
Finast 5 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, for an enlarged prostate in men.
- Relieving symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) in men
- Lowering the risk of sudden blockage of urine flow and the need for prostate surgery in some men, when a doctor judges it suitable
How does Finast 5 work?
Finasteride blocks an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which turns the male hormone testosterone into DHT. DHT makes the prostate grow. With less DHT, the prostate can slowly shrink and urine can flow more easily.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet is swallowed whole with water, with or without food. It is not split, chewed or crushed.
It is absorbed
Finasteride dissolves in the gut and is absorbed into the blood.
It reaches the prostate
The medicine is carried in the blood to the prostate and other tissues where testosterone is converted to DHT.
It blocks the enzyme
Finasteride blocks type II 5-alpha reductase, so less testosterone is turned into DHT and DHT levels fall.
The prostate slowly shrinks
Over several months the prostate can become smaller and urine flows more easily. The liver breaks the medicine down and it leaves the body, so it must be taken daily to keep the effect.
How to take Finast 5
Take Finast 5 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. It is a long-term medicine, and your doctor decides how long you need it.
- It is usually taken once a day at about the same time each day, with or without food.
- Swallow the tablet whole with water. Do not split, chew or crush it.
- If you miss a dose and are less than 6 hours late, take it. If it is more than 6 hours late, skip it. Never take two doses together.
- It can take several months to notice a benefit. Do not stop on your own, because symptoms often come back.
- Tell any doctor who orders a PSA blood test that you take it.
Side effects of Finast 5
Many men take finasteride without serious problems. Some side effects are common, and a few need prompt medical advice.
Uncommon or mild
- Erection problems
- Reduced interest in sex
- Less semen than usual, or none
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Lumps, pain or swelling in the chest area, or discharge from the nipple. Tell your doctor promptly
- Low mood or depression, or thoughts of harming yourself. Get medical help straight away
- Swelling of the face, mouth or throat, or trouble breathing (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Finast 5, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to finasteride or any ingredient
- Women who are or may be pregnant must not take it or handle crushed or broken tablets
- Women and children in general
- A woman who is or may be pregnant must not take it or handle crushed or broken tablets, because it can affect a male baby's development; if contact happens, wash the area with soap and water at once
- It is not recommended for women or children
- It lowers the PSA blood test by about half within six months, so tell any doctor who checks PSA that you take it
- Sexual problems may continue in some men after stopping
- Past depression or thoughts of self-harm: tell your doctor before taking it
- Severe bladder or liver problems: ask your doctor
- It does not prevent prostate cancer and is not approved for that purpose
Medicines and things that interact with Finast 5
No important medicine interactions are listed in the label, but tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.
- No clinically important interactions are listed in the US label
- Alpha blockers such as tamsulosin or doxazosin are sometimes prescribed together with finasteride; this should only be done by a doctor
If someone takes too much
Large single amounts have not caused serious problems in reports. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient finasteride is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Finast 5 contains finasteride only.
Other brands with the same medicine
Finasteride 5 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Finasteride 1 mg is a different product, so do not switch between strengths without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Finasteride is sold in 5 mg tablets for the prostate and in a lower strength for male hair loss, and in some combination products with other medicines. The strength and contents are printed on the pack, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
Is Finast 5 a prescription medicine?
Yes. Finasteride is a prescription-only medicine in India. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and it should not be started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice. Do not share it with others.
How long does Finast 5 take to work?
It usually takes several months to notice a change, and it is a long-term medicine. Symptoms often return if it is stopped. Talk to your doctor before stopping, especially if side effects worry you.
Can women handle Finast 5 tablets?
Coated whole tablets are not a concern, but a woman who is or may be pregnant must not handle crushed or broken tablets, because they can affect a male baby's development. If contact happens, wash the area with soap and water straight away.
Does Finast 5 affect a PSA test?
Yes. It lowers PSA by about half within six months. Tell any doctor who orders the test that you take finasteride, so the result can be read correctly. Do not skip tests your doctor asks for.
Does Finast 5 cause sexual side effects?
It can cause erection problems, reduced interest in sex and less semen in some men. These usually ease over time, but may continue after stopping in some men. Tell your doctor if you are worried.
Is Finast 5 used for hair loss?
No. The 5 mg tablet is for an enlarged prostate. Finasteride for male hair loss is a lower-strength product taken only on a doctor's advice. Do not use one strength in place of the other.
Sources
- Finasteride. NHS (UK)
- Finasteride: side effects. NHS (UK)
- Finasteride: who can and cannot take it. NHS (UK)
- Finasteride: how and when to take it. NHS (UK)
- Proscar (finasteride) 5 mg: label. DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine