BP Finpecia 2 (Finasteride) is a medication used to treat hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia in men. It can also be used to treat excessive hair growth in women and as a part of hormone therapy for transgender women. It is taken by mouth (orally).
Dosage is typically 1 or 2 mg per day.
Finasteride is a 5α-reductase inhibitor and therefore an antiandrogen. It works by decreasing the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by about 70%, including in the prostate gland and the scalp.
In addition to DHT, finasteride also inhibits the production of several anticonvulsant neurosteroids including allopregnanolone, androstanediol and THDOC.
Adverse effects from finasteride are rare, however some men experience sexual dysfunction, depression, and breast enlargement. In some men, sexual dysfunction may persist after stopping the medication.It may also hide the early symptoms of certain forms of prostate cancer.
Finasteride was patented in 1984 and approved for medical use in 1992. It is available as a generic medication.In 2019, it was the 86th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 8 million prescriptions.