Proscar tablets contain the active ingredient, finasteride 5mg which is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate gland) and male pattern baldness.
Finasteride is in a class of medications known as 5α-reductase inhibitors. The enzyme, 5α-reductase has been associated with prostatic enlargement and hair loss. Blocking this enzyme prevents enlargement of the prostate gland and helps to slow hair loss in males. Prostate enlargement has unpleasant symptoms related to restricted urine flow. The use of a 5α-reductase inhibitor like finasteride helps alleviate the symptoms by promoting greater urine flow. It can take six months or more to improve symptoms as the prostate gland slowly shrinks.