Is finasteride safe for long term?

Finasteride is generally safe to take for a long time. Many people take it for many months or even years without any problems. However, there have been reports of breast cancer in some men taking finasteride, but this is rare.

Is finasteride worth the risks?

Although low, finasteride is associated with an increased risk of getting a more serious form of prostate cancer, called high-grade prostate cancer. In men over 55 years of age, the risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer increases from 1.0 percent to 1.8 percent with the use of 5mg finasteride.

Does finasteride cause brain damage?

Human users of finasteride who were symptomatic reported major depression, impaired cognition/more cognitive complaints, reduced sexual arousal and fMRIs demonstrated abnormal brain circuitry with regard to sexual arousal (17). This appears to persist after drug cessation.

Do finasteride side effects go away?

Finasteride blocks the metabolism of testosterone. It can prevent hair loss and decrease prostate enlargement, but not surprisingly, it can also suppress sexual function. However, the side effects of a medication usually go away when you stop taking it.

Why you should not take finasteride?

Taking finasteride may increase the risk that you will develop high-grade prostate cancer (a type of prostate cancer that spreads and grows more quickly than other types of prostate cancer). Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking finasteride.

When should I stop taking finasteride?

Since finasteride only prevents hair loss while it’s active in your body, you’ll need to use it daily over the long term if your goal is to stop baldness and keep as much of your hair as possible. For many men, this means taking finasteride for years.

Does finasteride affect intelligence?

Adverse cognitive effects in former finasteride users were also reported in this study. Such cognitive effects include memory problems (71/131), attention difficulties (93/131), slowed thought processes (93/131), and mental cloudiness or brain fog (95/131) [30].

Is there an alternative to finasteride?

So, if you can’t or won’t take oral finasteride, sometimes oral minoxidil is a great alternative. It comes as a 2.5 mg pill, and we generally start off with about one-half pill daily, and then we let patients increase to either one pill or two pills as tolerated.

Does finasteride make you more horny?

Loss of Libido Another side effect reported with Propecia use is a reduced interest in sex. In fact, loss of libido was the most common sexual side effect reported in a 2011 study of finasteride users published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

What can I take instead of finasteride?

What happens when you stop finasteride?

The effect of finasteride on the prostate and scalp will only last as long as the medicine is taken. When it is stopped, the prostate begins to grow again and the hair will be lost.