| General Information
about Proscar
Finasteride was originally approved for the treatment and
reduction of benign prostatic hyperplasia and marketed under the
trade name Proscar by Merck and Co., On December 22 1997, 1mg of
Oral finasteride was approved by the FDA as a treatment for Male
Pattern Baldness.
The retail Rx price for Propecia is approximately equal to the
retail Rx price for Proscar. Both tablets are made by Merck and
contain only Finasteride: a Proscar tablet has 5mg, a Propecia
tablet has 1mg. Cost-conscious consumers therefore purchase Proscar
and divide the 5mg tablet into 4ths or 5ths, thereby enjoying the
benefits of Propecia for about 1/4 the price.
Description and Notes:
PROSCAR is for use by men only.
PROSCAR is used to treat a medical condition in men called benign
prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. BPH is a condition where your prostate
gland (which is near your bladder) has become bigger making it more
difficult for you to pass urine. This can lead to symptoms such as:
- weak or interrupted stream of urine
- feeling that you cannot empty your bladder completely
- delay before you start to pass urine
- needing to pass urine often, especially at night
- feeling that you must pass urine right away.
BPH occurs only in men and is common over the age of 50 years. BPH
can lead to serious problems, including urinary tract infections and
the sudden inability to pass urine at all.
The prostate gland takes years to grow. Therefore, the symptoms of
BPH take a long time to develop. PROSCAR works by slowly reducing
the size of your prostate gland. This may lead to gradual
improvement in your urine flow and other symptoms over several
months. PROSCAR also helps reduce the risk of developing a sudden
inability to pass urine (acute urinary retention) and the need for
surgery. This may happen whether or not you notice any improvement
or change in symptoms. |