This prescription is for use by MEN only and should NOT be used by women or children.
Read this patient information before you start taking Finasteride & Minoxidil + Hair Vitamins and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What is finasteride and minoxidil?
Finasteride and minoxidil are prescription medicines used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia):
Who should not take finasteride & minoxidil?
Finasteride is not for use by women and children and should not be handled by women or children.
Do not take finasteride & minoxidil if you:
- Are pregnant or may become pregnant. Finasteride may harm your unborn baby.
- Females who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not come in contact with finasteride & minoxidil compounded tablets.
- If a pregnant woman comes in contact with finasteride & minoxidil compounded tablets, wash the contact area right away with soap and water. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with finasteride, a healthcare provider should be consulted. If a woman who is pregnant with a male baby swallows or comes in contact with finasteride, the baby may be born with sex organs that are not normal.
If any of the following apply to you, please speak with a healthcare provider in person about seeking treatment for your male pattern hair loss:
- Younger than 18 years of age
- Have heart, kidney or liver disease
- Have pheochromocytoma
- Have active depression or anxiety
- Have prostate problems
- Have recently treated cancer
- Are allergic to any of the following ingredients: oral minoxidil, biotin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, or vitamin C
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking finasteride and minoxidil?
Before taking finasteride and minoxidil, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- have any other medical conditions, including problems with your heart, kidney, prostate or liver.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Know the medications you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medication.
How should I take Finasteride & Minoxidil + Hair Vitamins?
- Take this medication exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
- You may take it with or without food.
- If you forget to take a dose, do not take an extra tablet. Just take the next tablet as usual.
This medication will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day.
Oral minoxidil can cause early hair shedding as beneficial hair cycling is triggered. This is an expected side effect that will improve with continued medication use.
What are the most common side effects of minoxidil?
- Hypertrichosis, or increased hair growth on the face or body
- Lightheadedness
- Palpitations or tachycardia
- Headaches
- Leg swelling or fluid retention (edema)
- Swelling around the eyes
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Rash
What are the most common side effects of finasteride?
- Breast tenderness or enlargement of the breasts (reported in less than 1% of patients; typically resolves after the medication is stopped)
- Sexual dysfunction
In clinical trials, 1.2%-1.4% of patients taking finasteride experienced sexual dysfunction side effects including decreased libido, erectile dysfunction or a decrease in the volume of ejaculation vs. 1% of those taking placebo:
- Decreased libido 1.8%
- Erectile dysfunction 1.3%
- Decreased volume of ejaculate 1.2%
Several studies have documented the majority of these side effects are reversible. However, 1.4% of the patients who experience side effects may continue to have symptoms following discontinuation of Finasteride. Of particular note there has been an association of the sexual dysfunction symptoms and the use of NSAIDS (Motrin, Advil, Aleve type medications.) For this reason Finasteride should be stopped for the period of time when you take NSAIDS.
Does finasteride cause depression?
A literature review shows there may be evidence of increased depressive symptoms in individuals younger than age 45 while using Finasteride for hair loss. Patients with new or worsening depression should stop Finasteride use and follow up with their health care provider or a mental health therapist.
SOURCE: MEDPAGETODAY.ORGDoes finasteride cause prostate cancer or prostate enlargement (BPH)?
There have been reports of a slight increased risk (1.8% with 5mg finasteride dosage versus 1.0% placebo) of high grade prostate cancer for men over age 55 years old. These reports are from men taking a higher dosage of finasteride (5mg) than the dosage we prescribe for hair loss (1mg). There have been conflicting studies on the increased risk in the number of high grade prostate cancers; however, several recent studies have shown no increase in the number of deaths (with a recent study showing fewer deaths) in patients who use finasteride at the 1mg dosage.
Does finasteride change blood Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels?
Finasteride can affect a blood test called PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) for the screening of prostate cancer. If you have a PSA test done you should tell your healthcare provider that you are taking finasteride because finasteride decreases PSA
The following have been reported in general use with finasteride:
- breast tenderness and enlargement. Tell your healthcare provider about any changes in your breasts such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge.
- decrease in sex drive that continued after stopping the medication.
allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives and swelling of the - - - lips, tongue, throat, and face.
- problems with ejaculation that continued after stopping medication.
- testicular pain.
- difficulty in achieving an erection that continued after stopping the medication.
- male infertility and/or poor quality of semen.
- in rare cases, male breast cancer.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.
Seek emergency medical care if you experience any of these side effects:
- New or worsening chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, and face
- Sudden changes to your vision or hearing
- Very severe heartburn
The above symptoms may be signs of a more serious reaction.
These are not all of the possible side effects of finasteride and minoxidil. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Contact your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You can message a healthcare provider through your Hers account if you have any questions about your treatment, including any side effects you may be experiencing. You may report side effects to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088 or visiting
HTTP://WWW.FDA.GOV/MEDWATCH.
How should I store Finasteride & Minoxidil + Hair Vitamins?
- Store at room temperature between 59˚F to 86˚F (15˚C to 30˚C).
- Keep the medication in a closed container and keep tablets dry (protect from moisture).
Keep this medication out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of Finasteride & Minoxidil + Hair Vitamins.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in this Patient Information. Do not use Finasteride for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Finasteride to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.