Finasteride
Like all medicines, finasteride can cause side effects in some people, although not everyone gets them.
Common side effects
These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people.
They usually improve after a while. However, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:
- Problems getting an erection and less interest in having sex
- Problems with ejaculating, such as little or no semen
Serious side effects
Serious side effects with finasteride are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people. Some people may notice these side effects after taking finasteride for a few months.
Speak to your doctor if you get:
- Any lumps, pain or swelling in your chest area or discharge from your nipples – these may be signs of a serious condition such as breast cancer
- Unusually low mood (depression) or thoughts of harming yourself.
These are not all the side effects of finasteride. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
More information is also available here: www.nhs.uk/medicines/finasteride/
You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety Yellow Card scheme (www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard).