Side effects of Finasteride
November 13th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
If you have ever listened to drug commercials from the big drug companies, you will notice that they usually end the commercial with the associated side effects. One of the side effects sometimes listed is insomnia. One of the products that list that as a side effect is Finasteride or as its brand name of Propecia. Propecia is a male drug that isn’t promoted to women since the slightest ingestion by a woman is known to cause reproductive system problems.
Propecia helps with two different conditions. The first, the one that it was designed for is prostate enlargement. The second was discovered by accident and has nothing to do with internal health. Instead it stops or slows the loss of hair for male pattern baldness or as it is technically known, androgenetic alopecia. It seems that even with small doses of finasteride, insomnia is a potential side effect. Erectile dysfunction is also a know side effect for men. Women may suffer birth defects if they use the drug
It is unfortunate that treating one possible cause of insomnia may trigger another to take its place. Many times when a person is experiencing hair loss they stress over the number of hairs they find on their pillow every morning. This added stress can be a cause of insomnia. By using the hair loss product of finasteride, insomnia may develop.
When people begin to experience insomnia, they often become more stressed during the day as they grow tired. The stress prevents them from getting a good nights sleep and the lack of sleep increases their stress level. Throwing drugs like finasteride into the mix, insomnia will possibly be exacerbated, adding to the cycle of insomnia.
For most insomnia sufferers, a change in lifestyle may be needed such as establishing a constant bed time as well as creating an environment conducive to sleep. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol close to bed time can also help a person fall asleep. Some prescription drugs may also interfere with normal sleep patterns and should be discussed with a doctor for an alternative. In the case of a person using finasteride, insomnia may become worse.
If the drug is being used for prostate problems, the doctor may add a sleep enhancer to help on the occasional nights when sleep is elusive. However, those using it to slow hair loss may be advised to choose between losing their hair and losing sleep. There are alternatives to hair loss products. Some are available over the counter. These over-the-counter drugs can help keep the hair in place and lack the potential side effect of insomnia.
Ken
