5-alpha reductase inhibitor
- Blocks testosterone → dihydrotestosterone conversion
- ↓ DHT → prostate shrinkage and less androgen-driven hair loss
- Can cause sexual dysfunction
- Lowers PSA
- Blocks conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia
- Sexual dysfunction; lowers PSA by about half
Drugs with this mechanism (2)
- Dutasteride — Dual 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor for BPH; longer-acting than finasteride.
- Finasteride — Type-II 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor for BPH and hair loss.
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