What precautions should I take when using finasteride?
Finasteride should be stored in dry places and should be kept at a temperature between 59° and 86°F (15°–30°C). Heat and moisture may cause the drug to lose its potency. The drug can be safely handled by pregnant women as long as the tablets are intact; however, crushed or broken tablets should not be touched by a pregnant woman as the drug can be absorbed through the skin. If the woman is carrying a male fetus, the drug can cause abnormalities in the baby’s sex organs. The FDA issued a warning in 2003 that men taking finasteride should not donate blood until one month after the final dose of the drug, on the grounds that their blood could contain high enough levels of the medication to cause birth defects in a male baby if given to a pregnant woman. Patients should be advised that finasteride takes several months to reach its full effect—as long as six months for BPH and three months for hair regrowth. In addition, the drug’s effects on the body are not permanent; the prostate will st
