What is Proscar (finasteride) used for?

Proscar is a prescription medication that is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This is a benign or non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that affects around 50% of men above 50 and 90% of men above 80. Finasteride is also used to treat male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) in men.

How does Proscar (finasteride) work?

Proscar belongs to a group of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These drugs block the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme is necessary to convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. DHT is the hormone that causes the prostate gland to grow. By blocking the formation of DHT, Proscar shrinks the prostate  

What is the dosage of Proscar (finasteride)?

Proscar is available as a 5-mg tablet. It is taken once a day by mouth to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A tablet containing 1 mg of finasteride is available under the brand name Propecia, and it is used to treat male pattern hair loss. The main difference between Proscar and Propecia is the amount of finasteride they contain.