| json_metadata | "{"app":"musing/1.1","appTags":["health"],"appCategory":"health","appTitle":"What are the side effects of common prostate enlargement and hair growth drugs?","appBody":"<p>The popular prostate enlargement & hair growth drugs are Finasteride or Dutasteride, popularly known as Proscar and Avodart. Finasteride and Dutasteride are in the family of drugs known as 5α-reductase inhibitors (5α-RIs). They function by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) as well as several other critical steroid hormones. By reducing the concentration of 5α-DHT in the prostate, prostate volume decreases thus improving urinary flow.</p>\n<p>Considerable controversy exists regarding the severity and persistence of the adverse effects of 5α-RIs, but emerging clinical evidence strongly suggests that therapy is associated with sexual adverse side effects. The package insert for Finasteride reports a libido loss and erectile dysfunction. In some patients, these effects can remain even after stopping therapy. The mechanism of dysfunction is likely multifactorial, related both to the direct decrease in 5α-DHT and direct influence on central and peripheral nerves.</p>\n<p>In addition to sexual side effects, there have been some arguments into whether 5α-RIs can be used for prostate cancer chemo-prevention, but there is no decisive evidence. Inhibition of 5α-R activity may potentiate insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, vascular disease and osteoporosis, but studies have not been definitive. The investigation into psychiatric side effects of 5α-RIs has been limited, but some case series describe increased depression and anxiety symptoms among patients on the medication.</p>","appDepth":2,"appParentPermlink":"p3x9xuxaf","appParentAuthor":"divine-sound","musingAppId":"aU2p3C3a8N","musingAppVersion":"1.1","musingPostType":"answer"}" |
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