Tag: 5 alpha reductase inhibitor

According to post-marketing surveillance reports, constipation has been identified as a potential side effect associated with the use of dutasteride. While this is not as common as other reported adverse effects, it is a possibility that patients should be aware of, especially those taking it in combination with other medications for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects over half of men in their 50s and up to 90% of men in their 80s. For men with symptomatic BPH, finasteride is a common medication prescribed to help manage symptoms. This medication helps shrink the prostate and relieve urinary symptoms over time.

First approved by the FDA in the 1990s, finasteride became a standard treatment for male pattern hair loss and enlarged prostate by targeting a key hormone. But **what class of drug is finasteride**, and how does it achieve these therapeutic effects?

Over 50% of men over 50 experience symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). For many, the drug dutasteride is used for its effectiveness in treating this condition and its associated urinary issues.

According to the American Urological Association, combination therapy can be more effective for certain men with moderate to severe symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Flomax D Tablet is a single medication that combines two active ingredients to treat the urinary symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Clinical studies have demonstrated that standard-dose oral finasteride can reduce scalp dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels by 65–70%, playing a pivotal role in treating male pattern hair loss. This targeted reduction helps mitigate the hormonal action that causes hair follicle miniaturization, but the precise percentage can vary based on dosage and individual factors.

Clinical studies have shown that finasteride can lower total serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels by approximately 50% within the first year of use. This effect has major implications for interpreting PSA scores and monitoring for prostate health issues, including the detection of prostate cancer.

In 2023, finasteride was the 91st most prescribed medication in the United States, with over 7 million prescriptions [1.2.1]. While its popularity for treating hair loss and BPH is clear, a common question arises: **Is finasteride a steroid?** The answer is complex; chemically, it is a synthetic steroid, but it functions very differently from anabolic steroids [1.2.1, 1.2.3].

Dutasteride, often referred to as the sister drug to finasteride, is a powerful 5-alpha reductase inhibitor used to treat similar conditions. While both medications block the conversion of testosterone to DHT, dutasteride works differently by inhibiting both types of the reductase enzyme, making it a more potent suppressor of DHT.

Clinical trials have consistently shown that finasteride effectively reduces prostate volume, with some studies demonstrating a significant reduction over long-term use. For men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), this directly addresses the key question: **Does finasteride really shrink the prostate?**