Know All About: Finasteride Interactions
Hair loss is common among men and women today.
If you are also one of the people suffering from hair loss, you might have heard about Finasteride.
Finasteride is an FDA-approved medication for Androgenic Alopecia and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.
It reduces dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, a hormone that lowers hair follicles and shortens the hair growth cycle.
According to Science Direct, more than 90% of men who use Finasteride see an improvement, and 66% benefit from increased hair growth.
Just like other medicines, there are a few Finasteride interactions that you should be aware of.
Continue reading the article to understand more about Finasteride and its interactions.
Finasteride interactions
Interactions can change how a medication works.
It can increase or decrease the efficacy of a medication.
Here are some of the interactions of Finasteride.
Finasteride drug interactions
There are no major drug interactions linked to Finasteride.
However, Finasteride is known to have one minimal to 27 moderate interactions with different medications.
St. John’s Wort, Carbamazepine, and Rifampin are a few medications with which Finasteride is known to interact.
These medications speed up the liver’s breakdown of Finasteride, lowering its levels in the blood and decreasing its efficacy.
Whereas some Finasteride medication interactions like Itraconazole and Erythromycin increase the levels of the drugs in the blood.
Finasteride interactions with other drugs include:
- Abametapir topical
- Adagrasib
- Avacopan
- Diltiazem
- Duvelisib
- Fluconazole
- Fluvoxamine
- Fostamatinib
- Itraconazole
- Iarotrectinib
- Lenacapavir
- Lonapegsomatropin
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Olutasidenib
- Osilodrostat
- Pirtobrutinib
- Pralsetinib
- Saquinavir
- Selpercatinib
- Sirolimus
- Somapacitan-beco
- Somatrem
- Somatropin
- Tacrolimus
- Temsirolimus
- Terazosin
- Voriconazole
Finasteride disease interactions
Finasteride is known to interact with two diseases.
Liver disease
Finasteride has moderate interactions with liver disease.
The liver significantly metabolizes Finasteride.
Patients with liver illness should receive therapy with caution.
Urinary obstruction
Finasteride has moderate interactions with urinary obstruction.
Individuals with high residual urine volume or low urinary flow should have their obstructive uropathy checked regularly.
Finasteride therapy may not be appropriate for these people.
Finasteride food interactions
Finasteride has no interaction with any food.
But grapefruit juice might lower the efficacy of the medication.
Finasteride interactions with alcohol
Alcohol can lower the effectiveness of Finasteride.
However, Finasteride’s ability to lower the risk of prostate cancer was made ineffective by heavy drinking.
Side effects of Finasteride
Some of the side effects of Finasteride include:
- Breast enlargement
- Loss of libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Problems with ejaculation
- Increased risk of both male breast cancer
- High-grade prostate cancer
- Gynecomastia
- Symptoms of dizziness, weakness, dyspnea, rhinitis, and a skin rash
How does Finasteride work for hair loss?
Finasteride will increase the quantity of scalp hairs but not the volume of body hair in men with hair loss.
Finasteride works by inhibiting the function of an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase.
This enzyme converts Testosterone into another hormone that stimulates the growth of the prostate.
It raises Testosterone levels in the body, reducing prostate enlargement. Finasteride’s impact will remain just as long as the medication is taken.
Takeaway
Finasteride treats menâs hair loss and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.
It interacts mildly with one medicine and moderately with twenty-seven.
People with liver disease and Urinary Obstruction should also use Finasteride cautiously.
Grapefruit juice and alcohol can also lower the efficacy of Finasteride in some cases.
Consult your doctor before using Finasteride.
