Proscar

Proscar is a prescription drug that can be used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged. By decreasing DHT levels, the medication can help shrink an enlarged prostate and relieve enlarged prostate symptoms. Proscar comes as a 5 mg tablet and is generally taken once a day. Potential side effects of the medicine may include impotence, decreased sex drive, breast enlargement, and decreased ejaculate amount.

 

What Is Proscar?

Proscar® (finasteride) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed as treatment for an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate is also known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH.
 
(Click Proscar Uses for more information on what Proscar is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Proscar?

Proscar is manufactured by Merck & Co, Inc. Generic Proscar is made by several manufacturers.
 

How Does Proscar Work?

Proscar works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which decreases the amount of DHT in the body. Since DHT is important for enlargement of the prostate, using Proscar to decrease DHT levels can treat an enlarged prostate. In most men, Proscar can help shrink the enlarged prostate, helping to relieve their enlarged prostate symptoms.
 

Proscar Effects

There have been several studies looking at how well Proscar treats an enlarged prostate. In particular, there has been one very large study that studied several of the effects of Proscar for men with BPH, with the following results:
 
Symptoms of BPH
The men in this study were asked to rate the following symptoms of BPH:
 
  • Decreased size and force of urine stream
  • Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying when urinating
  • Delayed or interrupted urination
  • Having to get up to urinate frequently during the night
  • Having to urinate frequently during the day
  • Needing to strain or push the flow of urine.
     
The men who took Proscar had significant improvement in their BPH symptoms compared to the men who did not take Proscar. While some patients saw improvement right away, in general, it took about six months to see the improvement for most men. This improvement lasted throughout the entire study period (four years).
 
Acute Urinary Retention
This study also looked at how many men had acute urinary retention. If an enlarged prostate is very severe, a man may not be able to urinate at all. This is known medically as acute urinary retention and usually requires catheterization (inserting a small tube through the penis into the bladder in order to empty the urine). Of the men who took Proscar, 2.8 percent experienced acute urinary retention that required catheterization, compared to 6.6 percent of men who did not take Proscar.
 
Surgery
In this study, 4.6 percent of men who took Proscar needed to have BPH surgery, while 10.1 percent of men who did not take Proscar needed to have surgery.
 
Urine Flow
Men who took Proscar also had an improvement in the rate of urine flow. This increased flow rate was seen as early as the fourth month after starting Proscar and continued throughout the entire study.
 

When and How to Take Proscar

Some general considerations for when and how to take Proscar include:
 
  • Proscar comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once daily.
  • It may take as long as six months before results can be seen with Proscar.
  • Proscar can be taken with or without food.
  • Proscar should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level of the drug in your blood.
  • For Proscar to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Proscar will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Proscar Dosing

There is only one dose of Proscar available for enlarged prostate treatment -- Proscar 5 mg once daily.
 
As with any medication, do not adjust your Proscar dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Proscar Dosage for more information about dosing for Proscar.)
 

Side Effects of Proscar

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Proscar. However, not everyone who takes the medicine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Proscar well. When Proscar side effects do occur, they are often minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
The most common side effects of Proscar include:
 
(Click Proscar Side Effects to learn about the specific side effects of Proscar, including serious side effects to look out for.)
 
You can also read about other possible side effects by clicking on the following eMedTV links:
 

Drug Interactions With Proscar

There are no known drug interactions with Proscar.
 
(Click Proscar Drug Interactions for more information about Proscar and other medicines.)
 

Proscar: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider before taking Proscar if you have:
 
  • Liver disease or liver failure, including cirrhosis
  • Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
     
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
 
Tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you may currently be taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Proscar Warnings and Precautions for more information on this topic, including information on who should not take Proscar.)
 

Overdose With Proscar

In studies, large doses of Proscar did not cause any overdose symptoms.
 
If you happen to overdose on Proscar, or if you are a pregnant woman who has taken any amount of Proscar, seek medical attention immediately.
 
(Click Proscar Overdose for more information.)
 

Proscar Storage Methods

Proscar should be stored at room temperature away from moisture or heat. Proscar tablets should be kept in an airtight container. Because Proscar is so dangerous for pregnant women, women should not touch broken or crushed Proscar tablets if they are pregnant or may be pregnant.
 
Keep Proscar and all medications out of the reach of children.
 

Proscar: What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?

If you do not take your Proscar as scheduled, take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose of Proscar.
 

Proscar: Strengths

Proscar tablets are available in one strength -- Proscar 5 mg tablets.
 

Proscar Versus Propecia

Propecia®, a medication used for treating male pattern baldness, contains the same active ingredient as Proscar -- finasteride. However, Propecia is available only in 1 mg tablets, which is not the correct dose for treating BPH (see Proscar and Hair Loss for more information).
 
(Click on Propecia and Proscar for more information about the differences between Proscar and Propecia.)
 

Generic Proscar

Generic Proscar is currently licensed for sale.
 
(Click Generic Proscar for more information.)
 
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;