Finasteride 5 Mg Film-Coated Tablets
Pharmacode position may change as per Supplier's m/c requirement &additional small pharma code may appear on the front / back panel
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Finasteride 5 mg film-coated tablets
(Finasteride)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Finasteride is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Finasteride
3. How to take Finasteride
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Finasteride
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Finasteride is and what it is used for
Finasteride belongs to the group of medicines, called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. They act by reducing the size of the prostate gland in men.
Finasteride is used in the treatment and control of benign enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia - BPH). It causes regression of the enlarged prostate, improves urinary flow and symptoms caused by BPH, and reduces the risk of acute urinary retention and the need for surgery.
2. What you need to know before you take Finasteride
Do not take Finasteride
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to finasteride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- if you are a woman (because this medicine is for men)
- if you are a child.
Warnings and precautions
- if you have a large amount of residual urine and/or severely reduced urinary flow. If this is the case, you should be closely monitored for narrowing of the urinary tract.
- if you have a PSA test (test used to detect prostate cancer). Tell your doctor that you are taking finasteride. Finasteride can affect the blood levels of the substance being tested, PSA.
- if your sexual partner is or may potentially be pregnant, you should avoid exposing her to your semen which could contain a tiny amount of the drug and may affect the normal development of the baby’s sex organs.
Consult your doctor if any of the above applies to you now or in the
past.
Other medicines and Finasteride
Finasteride does not usually affect other medicines.
Always tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have
recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained
without a prescription.
Finasteride with food and drink and alcohol
Finasteride can be taken with or without food.
Pregnancy,breast-feeding and fertility
Finasteride should not be taken by women.
Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle broken or crushed Finasteride tablets. If finasteride is absorbed through the skin or taken by mouth by a woman pregnant with a male foetus, the child may be born with malformed genital organs. The tablets are film-coated, which prevents contact with finasteride provided the tablets are not broken or crushed.
When the patient’s sexual partner is or may become pregnant, the patient should either avoid exposure of his partner to semen (e.g. by use of a condom) or discontinue treatment with Finasteride.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
As far as is known, Finasteride has no influence on the ability to drive or operate machinery.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Finasteride
This medicinal product contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. How to take Finasteride
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults:
The usual dose is one Finasteride 5 mg tablet daily (equivalent to 5 mg finasteride).
The film-coated tablets can either be taken on an empty stomach or with a meal. The film-coated tablets should be swallowed whole and should not be divided or crushed.
Although early improvement may be seen, treatment for at least six months may be necessary to assess whether a beneficial response has been achieved.
Your doctor will tell you how long you should continue to take Finasteride 5 mg. Do not interrupt treatment early or the symptoms may come back.
Patients with impaired liver function
There is no experience of the use of Finasteride 5 mg in patients with restricted liver function.
Patients with impaired kidney function
No dosage adjustment is required (see “Adults”). The use of Finasteride 5 mg in patients who have to undergo haemodialysis has not been investigated to date.
Elderly patients
No dosage adjustment is required (see “Adults”).
Please speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you feel that the effect of Finasteride 5 mg is too strong or too weak.
If you take more Finasteride than you should
If you take more Finasteride than you should or if children have been taken medicine by accident please notify your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
If you forget to take Finasteride
If you forget to take a dose of Finasteride 5 mg, you can take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose, in which case you should continue with your medication as prescribed.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Common (occur in more than 1 in 100 patients):
• You may be unable to have an erection (impotence)
• You may have less desire to have sex
• You may have problems with ejaculation, for example a decrease in the amount of semen released during sex. This decrease in the amount of semen does not appear to affect normal sexual function.
These side effects above may disappear after a while if you continue taking Finasteride. If not, they usually resolve after stopping Finasteride.
Uncommon (occur in less than 1 in 100 patients):
• Breast swelling or tenderness
Unknown (cannot be estimated from the available data):
• Palpitations (feeling your heartbeat)
• Changes in the way your liver is working, which can be shown by a blood test
• Pain in your testicles
• Allergic reactions
If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking it and see your doctor straight away. The signs may include:
• Skin rashes, itching, or lumps under your skin (hives)
• Swelling of your lips and face.
You should promptly report to your doctor any changes in your breast tissue such as lumps, pain, enlargement or nipple discharge as these may be signs of a serious condition, such as breast cancer.
If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes, any side effects not listed in this leaflet . It will help if you make a note of what happened, when it started and how long it lasted.
If you would like further information about the tumour grading system or this trial, please talk to your doctor.
5. How to store Finasteride
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the blister and carton after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not use this medicine if you notice visible signs of deterioration.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Finasteride contains
- The active substance is finasteride. Each film-coated tablet contains 5mg of finasteride.
- The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate, cellulose microcrystalline, sodium starch glycolate (Type A), starch pregelatinised (maize), docusate sodium, magnesium stearate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, talc, indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132), iron oxide yellow (E172).
What Finasteride looks like and contents of the pack
Film coated tablet.
Blue coloured, circular, biconvex, beveled edged film-coated tablet debossed with ‘E’ on one side and ‘61’ on the other side. Finasteride 5 mg is available in PVC/PE/PVdC-aluminium foil blister packs containing 10, 14, 15, 20, 28, 30, 45, 50, 60, 90, 98, 100 or 120 film-coated tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Aurobindo Pharma Limited,
Ares, Odyssey Business Park,
West End Road,
South Ruislip hA4 6QD,
United Kingdom.
Tel: ++ 44 20 8845 8811 Fax: ++ 44 20 8845 8795
Manufacturer
Milpharm Limited,
Ares, Odyssey Business Park,
West End Road,
South Ruislip HA4 6QD,
United Kingdom.
or
APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited HF26, Hal Far Industrial Estate, Hal Far,
Birzebbugia, BBG 3000.
Malta
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of
the EEA under the following names:
Cyprus Finasterid Aurobindo 5 mg EniKaAujijiEvo |j£
Aehto ujiEvio 5iaKa
Germany Finasterid Aurobindo 5 mg Filmtabletten
Denmark Finasterid Aurobindo 5 mg filmovertrukne
tabletter
Estonia Finasteride Aurobindo
Greece FINESCAR 5 mg miKaAujijiEvo ji£ A£hto ujievio
5iaKa
Spain FINASTERIDA AUROBINDO 5 mg comprimido
recubierto con pelfcula EFG
Finland Finasterid Orion 5 mg kalvopaallysteinen tabletti
France FINASTERIDE ARROW LAB 5 mg, comprime
pellicule
Ireland Finasteride Aurobindo 5 mg film-coated tablets
Italy FINASTERIDE DOC Generici 5 mg compresse
rivestite con film
Lithuania Finasteride Aurobindo 5 mg plevele dengtos
tabletes
Latvia Finasteride Aurobindo 5 mg apvalkotas tabletes
The Netherlands Finasteride Aurobindo 5 mg, filmomhulde tabletten
Poland ADASTER
Portugal Finasterida Aurobindo
Sweden Finasterid Aurobindo 5 mg filmdragerade
tabletter
United Kingdom Finasteride 5 mg film-coated tablets
This leaflet was last revised in 09/2015.
P150
