These five reviews from patients taking Proscar for enlarged prostate can help you know what to expect before you begin taking it.

Proscar is the brand name of the generic drug finasteride, and it belongs to a group of drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, says WebMD. Unlike other drugs that relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate, this class of drugs works to shrink the prostate gland itself. Because it takes time to reverse BPH, it may take several months for symptom relief to occur.

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1. One patient named Bill reported on Drugs.com that he has had great success with Proscar. The drug reduced the size of his prostate gland by half in six months of treatment and helped him avoid prostate surgery. He reports initially experiencing dizziness that gradually became less of a problem.

2. Another patient review on RxList says Proscar was effective and lowered his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels to less than 3.0 where it has been maintained. He says the drug has mostly eliminated urgent trips to the bathroom during the day and at night.

3. On Drugs.com, a 63-year old man taking Proscar for three months as treatment for his enlarged prostate reports no improvement in his urinary symptoms so far.

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4. One patient says of the sexual side effects of taking Proscar, “This is OK, compared to my previous condition of frequent urinary incontinence, especially when on the road or when sleeping.” He has noticed a 50 percent decrease in his urinary symptoms, but has also experienced a complete loss of erectile function. He also has greatly reduced libido and no ability to ejaculate.

5. For another patient reviewing Proscar on Drugs.com, the sexual side effects are not worth the benefits. He reports taking the drug for nine months with a noticeable decrease in urinary urgency during the night, but it has ruined his sex life. He says intercourse is impossible because he cannot get an erection. He also reports that his penis has shrunk in size and changed shape. He plans to stop taking Proscar and hopes that prostate surgery is an option for him.

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