How does finasteride work in treating benign prostate enlargement?
Finasteride reduces levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone that is important in normal and abnormal prostate growth. DHT plays a key role in benign prostate enlargement and is also believed to be involved in the development of prostate cancer. Finasteride works by blocking the action of an enzyme, 5-alpha reductase, that is needed to convert the hormone testosterone into DHT.
