TLDR Dutasteride is effective for treating prostate enlargement and reducing related surgery risk, but is not approved for preventing prostate cancer.
The document from 2011 reviewed Dutasteride, a medication used to treat men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and an enlarged prostate. It is effective as both monotherapy and in combination with tamsulosin, as shown in randomized trials and their extensions. Dutasteride significantly reduces the risk of acute urinary retention and the need for BPH-related surgery, and it may also lower the risk of prostate cancer development. The document cites a trial with 4,325 men where Dutasteride reduced serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels by over 90% at two years and decreased the risk of acute urinary retention and surgery compared to placebo. Side effects were more common with Dutasteride but were generally manageable. The CombAT study indicated that combination therapy was more effective than monotherapy for symptom improvement. The REDUCE trial showed a 22.8% relative risk reduction in prostate cancer over four years with Dutasteride use. However, the FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted against its use for chemoprevention due to an insufficient benefit-to-risk ratio. Clinical trials have confirmed that Dutasteride is safe and well-tolerated, with sexual side effects decreasing over time. Despite its benefits, Dutasteride is not approved for prostate cancer chemoprevention, and further research is needed to clarify its role in this area.
92 citations,
June 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Dutasteride 0.5 mg daily improves hair growth safely in men with hair loss.
16 citations,
October 2007 in “Andrologia” DHT is a strong androgen that may pose less risk to the prostate compared to testosterone.
235 citations,
September 2004 in “The Journal of urology/The journal of urology” Drugs that block DHT production can effectively treat enlarged prostate and improve urinary issues with some sexual side effects.
408 citations,
May 2004 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Dutasteride more effectively lowers DHT levels in men with enlarged prostates than finasteride.
1707 citations,
December 2003 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Combination therapy of doxazosin and finasteride safely and effectively reduces benign prostatic hyperplasia progression risk.
45 citations,
January 2008 in “Drugs” Dutasteride effectively treats enlarged prostate, reduces prostate cancer risk, and promotes hair regrowth with few side effects.
31 citations,
September 2008 in “International Journal of Andrology” 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors may cause a low incidence of erectile dysfunction that decreases over time.
1 citations,
December 2018 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Men with thinner hair from genetic hair loss may be more likely to have an enlarged prostate.
7 citations,
December 2017 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Dutasteride is linked to a higher chance of sexual dysfunction, especially in younger males and the elderly.
71 citations,
November 2012 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire, sometimes lasting after stopping the drug.
22 citations,
August 2014 in “Clinical endocrinology” Taking finasteride for benign prostate hyperplasia may increase the risk of osteoporosis, especially at higher doses.
