How to decrease side effects of Finasteride?

A popular medication for treating hair loss is finasteride. It is available in pill form and sold under the brand name Propecia.

This drug inhibits the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase, which further turns testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.

Nevertheless, Finasteride is an effective treatment for hair loss but sometimes, it causes severe side effects.

After taking finasteride, some men report erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.

Fortunately, there are a few things you may do to lessen the frequency and severity of these adverse effects.

What is a Finasteride pill?

Finasteride is a type 2 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor that blocks the production of dihydrotestosterone hormone.

You need to know that the dihydrotestosterone hormone causes hair loss problems in men and leads to male pattern baldness.

This medication inhibits 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.

When this enzyme gets blocked, testosterone is not able to get converted into DHT.

You can find alpha-reductase enzymes in the scalp, liver, and prostate. This is why finasteride is good for hair loss and prostate enlargement.

How does Finasteride work in the body?

Finasteride work by preventing enzyme 5 alpha-reductase. This enzyme converts the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

DHT is a major cause of male pattern baldness and by inhibiting this enzyme, Finasteride stops the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

This further prevents hair loss problem in men and restore hair growth.

What are the common side effects of Finasteride?

Just like other medicines, finasteride also comes with a few side effects.

Not every man will suffer from side effects and those that do might get diverse ones at different strengths.

This is going to depend upon how the body reacts to the medication and how much you are taking Finasteride.

Nevertheless, finasteride is a safe medicine for most men who use it.

Finasteride is approved by FDA and there are only a few side effects of this medicine.

Below-stated are some common side effects of Finasteride include:

• Decreased libido
• Reduced sperm count
• Impotence
• Testicular pain
• Reduced sexual pleasure
• Testicular pain
• Mood swings
• Mood changes

You should see your doctor once because this medication is linked to some side effects.

You will learn many ways in this article for reducing the negative effects of the finasteride pill.

Ways to reduce side effects of Finasteride pill

Most men who take the Finasteride pill experience some side effects. Though the seriousness of side effects depends upon dosage.

To reduce the seriousness of side effects, you must take a low dosage of this medicine.

By taking a dosage of finasteride 0.25mg per day, one can reduce the most common side effects of this medicine.

To know which dose is best for you, consult a doctor once and then start with treatment.

In case, you are taking a higher dosage then the chances of experiencing severe side effects is more.

Whereas, if you take a low dosage, your chance of experiencing side effects is decreased.

If you take a lower dosage of finasteride and experience side effects then here are a few things to try:

Sexual side effects

Sexual side effects are very common to experience during your treatment with finasteride.

In case, you experience reduced libido or impotence then immediately contact a doctor and talk about your symptoms.

It might be possible to experience these side effects due to intake of low dosage of finasteride pill.

If this is the case, then do not discontinue taking this medicine.

Some patients might experience a quick increase in their hair loss if they stop taking Finasteride.

Instead of stopping this medication, you can raise your dosage as this will reduce the seriousness of side effects.

You can try reducing the side effects of finasteride by taking it at a different time of day.

It is always better to take a finasteride pill at night before going to bed. This will reduce the severity of side effects.

Taking finasteride at night before bed will aid you to avoid side effects during the day.

Also, patients can reduce the severity of finasteride’s side effects by taking it with food.

Decrease the dosage of finasteride

You might need to change the dose of this medicine if you experience side effects after taking the finasteride pill.

Depending upon your condition and side effects, a doctor might first lower the dosage of finasteride you are taking.

Lowering the dose of the finasteride pill can help you to reduce the severity of side effects quickly.

Make sure to consult a doctor about lowering the dose of finasteride when you experience side effects.

Increasing nitric oxide levels in the body

A naturally occurring chemical called nitric oxide plays important roles in health, including erectile function.

Consume foods high in nitric oxide, such as dark chocolate, lettuce, and carrots, if you are unable to use medications or dietary supplements.

Take finasteride with food

It is always better to take finasteride with food. This medicine is an enzyme inhibitor.

Enzyme inhibited by this medicine is further responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

This type of conversion is important for the growth of hair. When taken with food, the severity of side effects is reduced.

Before going to bed, you must take the Finasteride pill as this will reduce the seriousness of side effects.

Try topical version

Finasteride is also available in topical treatment form and helps in treating areas of concern.

Even though topical finasteride has less effectiveness than the oral version, it possesses fewer side effects.

Finasteride treatment is effective in treating the problem of androgenic alopecia when taken as directed by a doctor.

Therefore, if you wish to decrease the side effects of the Finasteride pill then follow your doctor’s prescription strictly.