TLDR Finasteride effectively reduces symptoms of enlarged prostate with minimal side effects.
The systematic review of literature over ten years of clinical use of Finasteride for treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing symptoms in patients with prostates larger than 40 ml and/or PSA levels greater than 1.4 ng/ml. The review included 137 references, with 36 meeting inclusion criteria, categorized by evidence levels: 3 at level I, 12 at level II, 6 at level III, and 10 at level IV. Finasteride was shown to reduce prostate volume, thereby decreasing the risk of acute urine retention and the need for surgery, with minimal adverse effects and a significant improvement in quality of life. The study recommended Finasteride for clinical use with a grade A recommendation.
27 citations
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August 1999 in “Urology” Finasteride improves urinary function in men for 2 years.
23 citations
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June 1999 in “Clinical Therapeutics” Finasteride is a cost-effective option for treating BPH, reducing risk of urinary issues and surgery.
21 citations
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April 1998 in “Urology” Finasteride effectively treats BPH and hair loss but may cause sexual side effects.
34 citations
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January 1998 in “European Urology” Finasteride works best in 6 months and lasts 6 years.
21 citations
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January 1998 in “Urologia internationalis” All treatments helped with prostate symptoms, but the combination of dibenyline and finasteride worked best without extra side effects.
728 citations
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August 1996 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Terazosin and finasteride effectively treat BPH, but combining them adds no extra benefit.
1040 citations
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October 1992 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride effectively treats BPH but may increase sexual dysfunction risk.
3 citations
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March 2020 in “The Journal of Urology” Older patients sticking to their prostate medication saw lasting health benefits.
1054 citations
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February 1998 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride reduces urinary issues and surgery need in men with enlarged prostates by over 50%.
52 citations
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February 2006 in “Current pharmaceutical design” 5α-reductase inhibitors and alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists together effectively treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, with long-term benefits.
45 citations
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January 2008 in “Drugs” Dutasteride effectively treats enlarged prostate, reduces prostate cancer risk, and promotes hair regrowth with few side effects.
40 citations
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April 1999 in “Drugs” Finasteride treats enlarged prostate, improves urinary flow, but may cause sexual side effects.
