Proscar, or finasteride, is a drug prescribed primarily for prostate cancer prevention. Although most prescription drugs on the market today caution that the user may experience specific side effects, whether minor or severe, many patients are concerned about the risk of weight gain while taking certain prescription drugs. There is no scientific evidence, however, linking Proscar to weight gain or loss.
Uses
Proscar has several uses for patients, but it is often used as a preventative medication. According to Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, Proscar is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, which can be used to prevent prostate cancer in men who are at risk of the disease. Proscar has been found to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, which puts men at a higher risk for prostate cancer.
How it Works
The Prostate Cancer Research Institute states that Proscar works by blocking an enzyme responsible for changing testosterone into dihydrotesterone, or DHT. DHT is a hormone that may cause an enlarged prostate, as it is the primary growth hormone of the prostate gland. With a lower amount of this growth hormone present in men, the prostate is able to shrink to a normal, healthy size again.
Effects on Weight
Research does not suggest that Proscar can affect your ability to gain or lose weight while taking the medication. However, according to EnCognitive.com, the FDA has reported cases of gynecomastia, an enlarging of the male breasts. This occurrence may be due to an unusual balance of androgen and estrogen in men from taking the drug Proscar. This condition would not have a substantial effect on weight gain in men.
Speculation
Although research into the drug Proscar cannot find a link between the drug and a change in body weight, patients should consider that introducing a new medication to the body can have different effects on different people. Side effects for most drugs available to patients today range from mild or moderate to severe and can either be common side effects or extremely rare.
Warning
Proscar is not for the treatment of prostate cancer or any other type of cancer. Proscar is a preventative medication but may also be used for the treatment of an enlarged prostate. Talk to your doctor about any drug allergies you may have before beginning to use Proscar. If any unusual changes occur while taking Proscar, consult your health care provider immediately.
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