Always read the labels

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:13 am

Hopefully, most who read this will not need the OTC meds that I take for prostate enlargement.
I just picked up a new bottle of the stuff I use. It's in a new package and I read the cautions. It seems that if I'm pregnant or lactating, I should not take this prostate medication!!!!
What's up with that?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:50 am

FWIW, I just checked by prescribed prostrate medication and it contains a similar warning.

Either there is something about the prostrate that I do not understand or this is one of those generic warnings that they put on "pills in a bottle" for "just in case".

Sort of a "one warning that fits all".

algale · Post by **algale** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:06 pm

Actually this may make sense. One of the drugs marketed for prostrate, Finasteride, is chemically the same as Propecia, which is prescribed for thinning hair (in both sexes). It is the same drug, just a different name and different approved uses. Since one may be more expensive than the other, doctors may prescribe Finasteride or Propecia for either prostrate issues or thinning hair. The result is a balding woman may get prescribed one of these drugs for hair growth. She should not take it, however, if she is pregnant or lactating. Hence the warnings on BOTH drugs.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 3:37 pm

algale wrote:Actually this may make sense. One of the drugs marketed for prostrate, Finasteride, is chemically the same as Propecia, which is prescribed for thinning hair (in both sexes). It is the same drug, just a different name and different approved uses. Since one may be more expensive than the other, doctors may prescribe Finasteride or Propecia for either prostrate issues or thinning hair. The result is a balding woman may get prescribed one of these drugs for hair growth. She should not take it, however, if she is pregnant or lactating. Hence the warnings on BOTH drugs.

I would then have to conclude that it only combats thinning hair if you are a woman.

I guess that is fair, it only combats an enlarged prostrate if your a man.

I take Finasteride for an enlarged prostrate and it has done absolutely nothing for my thinning hair.

algale · Post by **algale** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:15 pm

Dosage may make the difference as to whether you get just a smaller prostrate or both a smaller prostrate and more hair. In any case, the drug likely has a negative side effect on developing fetuses (feti?).

jcraigie · Post by **jcraigie** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:29 pm

LMAO! you guys crack me up!