Side effects are not common with Finasteride, and in any case, after dosage is completed, the side effects die away.
In some rarer cases however, the side effects can be noticeable.
As with all drugs, proper usage and care should reduce the effect of any side effects that are experienced.
As with all medicines, from aspirin to major medical treatment programmes, there is always the possibility of suffering from side effects.
However, most people tolerate the drug quite well with the minimum of noticeable effects.
And when they do occur, they are relatively minor, and can be easily managed by yourself or with some low-level medical care from your doctor.
Less than 1% of users do report a degree of erectile dysfunction as a possible side effect.
Erectile dysfunction is a lack of function of the penis.
This means that when sexual activity tales place, the male may not be able to achieve or maintain an erection.
Even less common than erectile dysfunction is the condition called Gynecomastia.
This is when a male develops abnormally large mammary glands.
Obviously this is uncomfortable psychologically, and can be very unsightly.
This is very rare as a side effect from use of the drug; however, it has a direct link to the hormone levels in human beings, so it is easy to see why it may occur after using Finasteride.
Finasteride is not recommended for use by women.
One reason for this is because it is known by the FDA and other regulatory bodies to cause birth defects.
It is so hazardous that any woman who is pregnant must not handle or be in any contact with even broken Finasteride tablets.
The medication is so potentially potent it can actually be absorbed through the skin.
This is why it is such a hazardous substance for pregnant women.
Even exposure to whole tablets is not recommended, although it has not been proven to have an effect unless the tablet is swallowed.
Finasteride is known to pass into the semen of men.
However, it is not known for the Finasteride to cause concern if the semen of a man who is taking Finasteride would come into contact with a woman.
Other side effects of the drug have meant that it has had a link with depression.
Studies did find that the drug may induce symptoms linked to depression.
This means that the drug should be prescribed with caution when a patient who has high risk for depression is involved.
Patients who are highly susceptible to the disease have been reported to suffer from a drug induced episode of depression.
Again, this only suggests that physicians should exercise caution with clients who are high risk for depression.
Due to the nature of the makeup of Finasteride, many major sports associations have banned its use.
This is because the drug helps to mask the presence of steroids.
As has been widely documented in the past, some athletes have used steroids to enhance their performance.
Since 2005, and unsurprisingly perhaps, Finasteride has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned substance list.
Many prominent athletes have been linked to its use in the past.
Perhaps most famously, the international football star Romario has been linked to the abuse of the drug.
The famous ice hockey goalkeeper Jose Theodore was also involved in controversy with the drug.
Unfortunately, Theodore was using the drug as part of a famous hair tonic.
He was allegedly unaware of the effects of Finasteride as a masker of steroids, and thus paid the price of facing sanction.
Further side effects that have been reported include a small decrease in sex drive.
The libido has been reduced in a very small percentage of the takers of the drug.
Less than 2 per cent of users, in fact, have reported this problem.
Just over one per cent have reported a decrease in ejaculate amount.
Again, this is a very small amount of people, and puts the question of side effects into perspective.
As the dosage becomes larger the possibility of receiving any of the side effects mentioned in this article does increase.