Dutasteride

In 2008, dutasteride was evaluated for its efficacy in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) through several studies, including over 4000 men in phase III trials. The medication, a dual 5α-reductase inhibitor, was effective in improving urinary symptoms, reducing prostate volume, and decreasing the risk of acute urinary retention and BPH-related surgery. Dutasteride was also found to be more effective than finasteride in reducing serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels, with a median decrease of 93.7% over 2 years. It was well tolerated, with sexual adverse events being generally transient and low in incidence. Combination therapy with dutasteride and tamsulosin showed superior results compared to monotherapy. Additionally, dutasteride demonstrated potential in reducing the risk of prostate cancer in at-risk men and extending time to progression in men with low-risk localized prostate cancer. The drug's effects on hair regrowth were also noted, with a 24-week trial showing significant improvement compared to placebo, and dutasteride 2.5 mg/day being superior to finasteride 5 mg/day for this purpose. The document concluded that dutasteride is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for BPH and may have potential benefits in prostate cancer risk reduction and hair regrowth.