Drug profile

The FDA adverse-event record for Finasteride

11 adverse-event reports submitted to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine reference Finasteride. See the species affected, top reactions, and outcomes below.

11
adverse-event reports
18.2%
death-coded share
Dog
most-reported species
3
Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') - top reaction
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Important: Adverse event reports do not establish that a drug caused or contributed to the event. Consult your veterinarian before making treatment decisions.
11
Total Reports
2
Deaths Reported
18.2%
Death Rate

Active Ingredients

Finasteride

Administration Routes

OralUnknown

Species Affected

Dog 8
Human 3

Most Affected Breeds

Unknown 3
Shepherd (unspecified) 1
Pointing Dog - German Short-haired 1
Rottweiler 1
Weimaraner 1
Boxer (German Boxer) 1
Terrier - Bull - American Pit 1
Terrier - Bull 1
Cattle Dog - Flanders (Bouvier) 1

Most Reported Reactions

Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') 3
Inappropriate urination 3
Weight loss 2
Stiff gait 2
Panting 2
Pacing 2
Staring 2
Limb weakness 2
Confusion 2
Unable to stand 2
Crystalluria 2
Polyuria 2

Outcome Breakdown

Recovered/Normal
5 (45.5%)
Outcome Unknown
3 (27.3%)
Euthanized
1 (9.1%)
Died
1 (9.1%)
Ongoing
1 (9.1%)

Finasteride Adverse Event Insights

11 reports name Finasteride; 2 recorded a death outcome (18.2% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). Active ingredient: Finasteride. Administration routes: Oral, Unknown.

By species: Dog (8 reports), Human (3 reports). By breed: Unknown (3), Shepherd (unspecified) (1), Pointing Dog - German Short-haired (1).

Leading clinical signs: Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (3), Inappropriate urination (3), Weight loss (2), Stiff gait (2). Outcome, 11 coded reports: Recovered/Normal leads at 45.5%.

Read these counts as reporting volume, not risk: per our methodology, a widely-prescribed drug will rack up more raw FDA reports in a given year than a rarely-used one at an identical true rate, so we recommend comparing within similar-exposure products rather than across the full 2025 catalog.

Source: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events (CVM AER) · 2025

Every figure on PlainBreed is rendered directly from FDA openFDA adverse event data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FDA openFDA data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.