PURPOSE: Finasteride is an inhibitor of human 5alpha-reductase, which results in a decrease in plasma and intraprostatic dihydrotestosterone(DHT) level. We investigated the changes of prostate volume(PV), transitional zone volume(TV), and PSA during and after administration of finasteride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1995, 32 BPH patients treated with finasteride underwent surveillance after cessation of finasteride. Surveillance included measurements of PV, TV and PSA every 3 to 6 months. The mean age of the patients was 66.7 years(57-73). The mean duration of treatment and cessation were 8.6 months(6-12) and 8.0 months(6-12), respectively. The changes in PV, TV, and PSA were compared. RESULTS: The mean initial PV, TV, PSA were 45.7cc, 22.5cc, 2.72ng/ml, respectively. After treatment, PV, TV, PSA were reduced to 72.7%, 67.1%, 64.7% and 68.0%, 61.4%, 57.3% and 59.4%, 55.0%, 52.5% of the original values at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. The reduction rate was maximum after the first 3 months(p=0.001). After discontinuing finasteride, PV, TV, PSA recovered to 71.0%, 71.2% 63.9% and 84.0%, 82.3%, 67.6% and 90.4%, 85.1%, 74.1% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. The recovery rates of PV and TV after 3 and 6 months were equal. However, recovery rate of PSA was maximum at 3 months and after then, constant until 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: During first 3 months` treatment, the decreasing rates of PV, TV and PSA were very considerable, after then, reduced. After cessation of medication the recovery rates of PV, TV were constant during first 6 months but PSA was maximum at first 3 months. The changes in clinical parameters during administration were fully recovered but it took slightly longer periods after cessation compared to those during of treatment. PSA is probably a predictor in the assessment of volume changes.
Finasteride* ; Humans ; Plasma ; Prostate*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Finasteride* ; Rats* ; Spermatogenesis*

No abstract available.
Alopecia* ; Dutasteride* ; Finasteride*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Castration* ; Finasteride* ; Prostate* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Finasteride* ; Risk Factors ; Venous Thrombosis*

Oral finasteride(Propecia(R)), 1mg/day, has been widely used as an effective treatment for male androgenetic alopecia since it had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) of U.S. in December 1997. Gynecomastia has been one of the most common adverse effects in the patients who were taking 5mg of oral finasteride(Proscar(R)). Recently, several cases of unilateral or bilateral finasteride induced gynecomastia have also been reported in 1mg of oral finasteride(Propecia(r)). We report two cases of finasteride(Propecia(R)) induced painful bilateral gynecomastia, which are the first published documentations in Korea.
Alopecia ; Documentation ; Finasteride ; Gynecomastia* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male

No abstract available.
Female ; Finasteride ; Hair ; Humans ; Pilot Projects

PURPOSE: It has been reported in several for factors on the drug compliance of patients, number of drug being taken, symptom, and pharmaceutical dosage form. However, Studies of drug compliance by dosing methodologies of tamsulosin, finasteride combination therapy and symptom relief for benign prostatic hyperplasia has not been performed. Therefore, we studied for symptom and differences in medication adherence in method of administration of tamsulosin, finasteride combination therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The groups were consisted in need of combination therapy of tamsulosin, finasteride on benign prostatic hyperplasia, one had packaged both drugs together (Group A, n=30) and the other were individually packaged both agents (Group B, n=30). International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) were checked on first, 4weeks, and 8weeks. The evaluation was carried out of medicine compliance by checking the number of drugs 4weeks-interval. which was every 4weeks during 8weeks. RESULTS: The properties other than the PSA in both groups, there was no statistically significant differences between patients. In first 4weeks, drug compliance of each Group A and B had tamsulosin 82.6%, 93.3% (p=0.033), finasteride 80.1%, 93.3% (p=0.042), and last 4weeks tamsulosin 80.6%, 93.7% (p=0.013), finasteride 79.5%, 93.7% (p=0.002) were checked. Group C, D had 81.4%, 96.4% (p=0.021) on 4weeks, 80.6%, 97.2% (p=0.011) on 8weeks. CONCLUSIONS: For co-administration of finasteride and tamsulosin are required in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, in order to enhance drug compliance, both tablets have to prescript together in one package to be taken at one time is useful.
Compliance ; Dosage Forms ; Finasteride* ; Humans ; Medication Adherence* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Tablets

PURPOSE: An economic analysis of pharmacological therapy and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was conducted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty six patients had undergone TURP from January to June 2000 were enrolled in this study. The costs associated with this group of patients were compared with those of 7 patients treated with medication (doxazosin, terazosin, tamsulosin, and finasteride only and alpha-blocker with finasteride). RESULTS: The mean cost for TURP was 1,900,000 won. The most expensive medical therapy was finasteride, which was followed by tamsulosin, terazosin, and doxazosin, with an estimated 12-month cost of 817,000won, 695,000won, 396,000won, and 372,000won respectively. The costs associated with doxazosin remained lower than those associated with TURP for approximately 5.3 years (the corresponding break-even point was 2.4 years for finasteride vs. TURP). CONCLUSIONS: Among the pharmacological therapies, doxazosin is the most cost effective. TURP was more cost effective than doxazosin therapy after 5.3 years. In view of the cost-effectiveness, TURP may be considered as the mode of primary therapy for the patients with severe symptoms of BPH.
Doxazosin ; Finasteride ; Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the change in sexual function after treatment with finasteride in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia using the validated International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients, who were treated with 5mg finasteride daily due to a benign prostatic hyperplasia, were assessed with the IIEF questionnaires prior to treatment and after 3 months of medication. Nine patients were excluded due to an erectile dysfunction. The patients' age ranged 50 to 78 years with a mean age of 63.3 years (by age group: 50-59 years, n=13; 60-69 years, n=27; 70-79 years, n=11). The total IIEF scores and all 5 IIEF domains scores were calculated to investigate the change in sexual function. RESULTS: The mean total IIEF scores decreased significantly from 43.24+/-15.02 to 37.00+/-17.78 after administering finasteride (p<0.05). The mean decrease in the total IIEF scores for the men in their fifties, sixties and seventies were 4.69, 7.59 and 4.73, respectively, and was most prominent in the sixties. Among the mean scores of each IIEF domain, the erectile function scores decreased from 17.53+/-6.83 to 15.04+/-7.78 (p<0.05), the intercourse satisfaction scores decreased from 7.59+/-2.86 to 6.25+/-3.43 (p<0.05), the orgasm function scores decreased from 6.37+/-2.65 to 5.16+/-3.07 (p<0.05), the sexual desire scores decreased from 5.47+/-1.71 to 4.86+/-2.06 (p<0.05), and the overall satisfaction scores decreased from 6.27+/-2.44 to 5.69+/-2.62 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With this IIEF questionnaire, the generalized sexual function decreased after finasteride treatment in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, particularly in those aged 60-69 years.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Finasteride* ; Humans ; Male ; Orgasm ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Surveys and Questionnaires