Finasteride
January 1994
in “The New England Journal of Medicine”
TLDR Finasteride treats enlarged prostate and may help with baldness, but effects on sexual function and male fetuses are unclear.
This document from 1994 discusses the drug finasteride, which inhibits the production of dihydrotestosterone and is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. The drug has been shown to reduce serum concentrations of prostate-specific antigen and may prevent or attenuate male-pattern baldness. However, its effects on sexual function are unclear, and there is concern that it may prevent virilization of male fetuses. The article suggests that further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of finasteride.
View this study on nejm.org →
Cited in this study
research Prolonged treatment with finasteride (a 5α-reductase inhibitor) does not affect bone density and metabolism
Long-term finasteride use doesn't change bone density or metabolism.
research The Effect of Finasteride in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Finasteride effectively treats BPH but may increase sexual dysfunction risk.
research Effect of Finasteride, a 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor, on Serum Gonadotropins in Normal Men
research Hair growth effects of oral administration of finasteride, a steroid 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, alone and in combination with topical minoxidil in the balding stumptail macaque
Taking finasteride pills and using minoxidil lotion together can help grow hair.
research The clinical development of a 5α-reductase inhibitor, finasteride
Finasteride effectively treats BPH, but needs more trials to understand potential.
research External genitalia abnormalities in male rats exposed in utero to finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor
Finasteride exposure in pregnancy causes genital abnormalities in male rats.
research Effects of Finasteride (MK-906), a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, on Circulating Androgens in Male Volunteers*
Finasteride safely lowers DHT levels without affecting testosterone.
research C19and C215β/5αMetabolite Ratios in Subjects Treated with the 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride: Comparison of Male Pseudohermaphrodites with Inherited 5α-Reductase Deficiency*
Finasteride may treat baldness but less effective for those with 5α-reductase deficiency.
research Three-Month Treatment With a Long-Acting Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist of Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Effects on Tissue Androgen Concentration, 5α-Reductase Activity and Androgen Receptor Content*
A three-month treatment with a GnRH agonist significantly lowered androgen levels and 5α-reductase activity in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Related
research 16799 Similar efficacy of maintenance treatment of finasteride 1 mg every other month compared with finasteride 1 mg daily in Korean men with androgenetic alopecia after taking finasteride 1 mg daily for 1 year
Finasteride 1 mg every other month works as well as daily dose for hair loss maintenance.
research Use of Finasteride in the Treatment of Men With Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Hair Loss)
Finasteride effectively improves hair growth and slows hair loss in men with male pattern baldness.