How does Dutasteride Work?
Prostate growth is caused by a hormone in the blood called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dutasteride lowers DHT production in the body, leading to shrinkage of the enlarged prostate in most men. Dutasteride, is a dual 5alpha-reductase inhibitor for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dutasteride differs from finasteride as it inhibits both isoenzymes of 5alpha-reductase and results in near-complete suppression of serum dihydro-testosterone. Similar to finasteride, dutasteride reduces serum prostatic specific antigen by approximately 50% at 6 months and total prostate volume by 25% in 2 years. Randomised, placebo-controlled trials conducted over 2 years have shown the efficacy of dutasteride in symptomatic relief, and peak urinary flow rate, and reduction of acute urinary retention events and the need for surgery. Dutasteride has been shown to possess tumor regression properties in vitro and its role in chemoprevention of prostate cancer is being evaluated in the ongoing Reducti
