Finasteride
(Redirected from Prostide)
Finasteride (fih-NAS-teh-ride) is a drug used to reduce the amount of male hormone (testosterone) produced by the body.
Information about Finasteride[edit source]
Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy and male pattern baldness.
Liver safety of Finasteride[edit source]
Finasteride is associated with a low rate of transient serum aminotransferase elevations, but has yet to be linked to instances of clinically apparent, acute liver injury.
Mechanism of action of Finasteride[edit source]
Finasteride (fin as' ter ide) was the first 5-alpha reductase inhibitor to be approved for use as therapy of symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy in the United States. Finasteride inhibits the steroid 5-alpha reductase, which blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a form of the androgenic hormone that is important in the development and maintenance of prostatic hyperplasia. Serum dihydrotesterone levels are decreased by 70% to 90% by finasteride therapy with little effect on testosterone levels. Finasteride takes several months to have an effect on prostate size and symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy (urinary hesitancy and poor stream), unlike the alpha-1 adrenergic receptor blockers which have a more immediate effect. Finasteride also inhibits the steroid 5-alpha reductase present in skin, which led to its use in the therapy or prevention of male pattern baldness.
FDA approval information for Finasteride[edit source]
Finasteride was approved for use in the United States in 1992 and is available in 5 mg tablets generically and under the trade name Proscar for prostatic hypertrophy, and as 1 mg tablets under the name Propecia for male pattern baldness.
Dosage and administration for Finasteride[edit source]
The recommended dose for therapy of prostatic hypertrophy is 5 mg once daily, and it generally requires 3 to 6 months before an effect is obtained and thereafter requires long term therapy. The dose of finasteride for male pattern baldness is 1 mg daily. It is not recommended as therapy for baldness in women.
Side effects of Finasteride[edit source]
Side effects are uncommon, but include a low rate of impotence and decreased libido, gynecomastia, dizziness and weakness. Finasteride also decreases serum PSA levels (~50%), which should be monitored during therapy. Alpha-blockers used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH):
5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
