Finasteride benign prostatic hypertrophy treatment

Finasteride Proscar Treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy, Merck, 1985 also marketed to treat male hair loss... 

Flutamide and bicalutamide are nonsteroidal antiandrogens available for use in conjunction with the gonadorelins (e.g. goserelin) in the treatment of prostatic carcinoma. Finasteride (p. 544), which inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, has localised antiandrogen activity in tissues where dihydrotestosterone is the principal androgen this makes it a useful drug in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy. 

The lipophilic compounds from this herb, most notably lauric acid, inhibit the enzyme (5a-reductase) responsible for converting the male hormone testosterone to 5a-dihydrotestosterone, the metabolite associated with prostate enlargement. Clinical trials support the use of saw palmetto extracts in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) while its anti-androgenic properties may also assist in acne, female hirsutism and even baldness. Serenoa improves urine flow values, residual urine values and all other symptoms of BPH to a similar degree to standard drugs such as finasteride, without side effects such as decreased libido or modification of PSA values—the marker antigen for prostate cancer (Cristoni et al. 2000). 

---