Description
Proscare (Finasteride) 5 mg
Proscare 5 mg is a finasteride-containing oral tablet. Finasteride is a prescription medicine used for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that can cause lower urinary tract symptoms in men with an enlarged prostate.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is finasteride. It belongs to the class of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. This group of medicines reduces the activity of the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that helps drive prostate growth.
Established Medical Uses
Finasteride 5 mg is established for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with an enlarged prostate. Official prescribing information describes benefits that include improvement of urinary symptoms and reduction in the risk of acute urinary retention and prostate-related surgery. In some settings, it is also used together with an alpha-blocker for selected patients with BPH. It is not approved for the prevention of prostate cancer.
How It Works
Finasteride works by blocking type II 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme responsible for producing dihydrotestosterone from testosterone. Lowering dihydrotestosterone levels helps shrink prostate tissue over time and can reduce pressure on the urethra. Because this effect is gradual, finasteride is used as a disease-modifying treatment rather than as a rapid-relief medicine.
Important Safety Information
Finasteride is contraindicated in pregnancy because exposure may harm a male fetus. Pregnant people, or those who may become pregnant, should not handle crushed or broken tablets. Caution is also warranted in people with liver disease, because finasteride is metabolised in the liver.
Important clinical considerations include the fact that finasteride lowers prostate-specific antigen values, which can affect interpretation of prostate cancer screening tests. Men taking finasteride should have prostate-related symptoms and investigations interpreted by a healthcare professional familiar with this effect. Finasteride is not intended to treat prostate cancer, and its use should not delay assessment of concerning urinary symptoms or abnormal test results.
Clinically significant interactions are limited, but combined use with other medicines for BPH, particularly alpha-blockers, may be used in selected patients under medical supervision. Any suspected interaction or co-existing condition should be reviewed by a prescriber or pharmacist.
Possible Side Effects
Reported side effects may include reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculation disorders. Some patients may also experience breast tenderness or enlargement, rash, or dizziness. Less common but important adverse effects include allergic reactions and persistent mood changes, which should be assessed promptly. Any new breast lump, nipple discharge, or marked change in mood should be taken seriously.
Scientific Evidence
Clinical trial evidence and systematic reviews support finasteride 5 mg as an effective treatment for men with BPH, particularly those with enlarged prostates. Studies have shown improvements in urinary symptoms, urinary flow measures, and prostate volume, with a lower risk of urinary retention and surgery in appropriate patients. The evidence base is strongest for men with demonstrable prostate enlargement rather than for all men with urinary symptoms.
Research has also shown that finasteride alters prostate biology by reducing dihydrotestosterone, which explains its slower but sustained effect on prostate size and symptom progression. Long-term benefit should be understood as a gradual reduction in disease progression rather than immediate symptom relief.
Medical Information Notice
This page is an educational summary based on sources available at the time of review. It does not replace the official patient leaflet, prescribing information, or individual assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. PROSCAR (finasteride) Tablets, prescribing information. View official prescribing information
- DailyMed / National Library of Medicine. Finasteride tablet, film coated. View official drug label
- Nickel JC et al. Finasteride in the treatment of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review of randomised trials. BMC Urology, 2002. View scientific article
- Hobbs C et al. Finasteride in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a review. Therapeutic Advances in Urology, 2009. View scientific article
