Finasteride / Tadalafil Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 12, 2025.

Applies to finasteride / tadalafil: oral capsule.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Women and children should not use this medicine. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle crushed or open capsules. Finasteride can be absorbed through the skin and cause birth defects in male babies. If a woman does come in contact with this medicine, the affected area should be washed right away with soap and water.

Do not use this medicine if you are also using riociguat or a nitrate medicine, often used to treat angina (chest pain). Nitrate medicines include nitroglycerin, isosorbide, Imdur®, Nitro-Bid®, Nitrostat®, Nitro-Dur®, Transderm Nitro®, Nitrol® Ointment, and Nitrolingual® Spray. Some illegal ("street") drugs called "poppers" (eg, amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, or nitrite) also contain nitrates. If you need to use a nitrate medicine, take it at least 48 hours after your last dose of this medicine.

This medicine may affect the results of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, which may be used to detect prostate cancer. Make sure you tell all of your doctors that you are using this medicine.

It is important to tell your doctor about any heart problems you have now or may have had in the past. This medicine can cause serious side effects in patients with heart problems.

This medicine will not prevent prostate cancer but may increase your risk of developing high-grade prostate cancer. Tell your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.

Check with your doctor right away if you have a sudden decrease in hearing or loss of hearing, which may be accompanied by dizziness and ringing in the ears.

If you experience sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, contact your doctor immediately.

If you experience a prolonged erection for more than 4 hours or a painful erection for more than 6 hours, contact your doctor immediately. This condition may require prompt medical treatment to prevent serious and permanent damage to your penis.

This medicine may cause serious allergic and skin reactions, including angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and exfoliative dermatitis. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, cracked, dry, or scaly skin, chills, cough, crusting, irritation, or reddening of the skin, diarrhea, itching, large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs, joint or muscle pain, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swelling, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol (eg, 5 or more glasses of wine or 5 or more shots of whiskey) when taking this medicine. When taken in excess, alcohol can increase your chances of getting a headache or dizziness, increase your heart rate, or lower your blood pressure.

Some men who use this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children). Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects

Along with its needed effects, finasteride / tadalafil may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking finasteride / tadalafil:

Other side effects

Some side effects of finasteride / tadalafil may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to finasteride / tadalafil: oral capsule.

General adverse events

The most frequently reported adverse reactions in studies evaluating finasteride in monotherapy or in combination therapy were related to sexual function.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%):

Finasteride: Rash

Tadalafil: Pruritus, rash, sweating

Postmarketing reports:

Finasteride: Angioedema (including swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, and face), pruritus, urticaria

Tadalafil: Exfoliative dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, urticaria^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%):

Tadalafil: Dyspepsia, diarrhea

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Abnormal liver function tests, dry mouth, dysphagia, esophagitis, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, GGTP increased, hemorrhoidal hemorrhage, loose stools, nausea, rectal hemorrhage, upper abdominal pain, vomiting^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%):

Finasteride: Hypotension, postural hypotension

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Angina pectoris, chest pain, hypotension, myocardial infarction, palpitations, postural hypotension, syncope, tachycardia

Postmarketing reports:

Tadalafil: Stroke, sudden cardiac death^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Common (1% to 10%):

Finasteride: Abnormal ejaculation, decreased volume of ejaculate

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Erection increased, spontaneous penile erection

Postmarketing reports:

Finasteride: Testicular pain

Tadalafil: Priapism^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%):

Tadalafil: Back pain, myalgia, pain in extremity

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Arthralgia, muscle spasm, neck pain^[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Blurred vision, changes in color vision, conjunctivitis (including conjunctival hyperemia), eye pain, increased lacrimation, swelling of eyelids

Postmarketing reports:

Tadalafil: Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), retinal artery occlusion, retinal vein occlusion, visual field defect^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%):

Finasteride: Abnormal sexual function, asthenia, breast enlargement, decreased libido, gynecomastia, impotence, peripheral edema

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%):

Finasteride: Breast tenderness

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Asthenia, face edema, fatigue, pain, peripheral edema, sudden decrease or loss of hearing, tinnitus

Postmarketing reports:

Finasteride: Decreased libido and ejaculation disorders (e.g. reduced ejaculate volume),

hematospermia, male breast cancer, male infertility and/or poor seminal quality, sexual dysfunction that continued after discontinuation of treatment including erectile dysfunction

Tadalafil: Sudden decrease or loss of hearing^[Ref]

Renal

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Renal impairment^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%):

Tadalafil: Nasopharyngitis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%):

Finasteride: Dyspnea, rhinitis

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Dyspnea, epistaxis, pharyngitis^[Ref]

Nervous system

Common (1% to 10%):

Finasteride: Dizziness, headache, somnolence

Tadalafil: Dizziness, headache

Frequency not reported:

Tadalafil: Hypesthesia, insomnia, paresthesia, somnolence, vertigo

Postmarketing reports:

Finasteride: Depression

Tadalafil: Migraine, seizure and seizure recurrence, transient global amnesia^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Finasteride/tadalafil side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer