title: The effectiveness of reducing the daily dose of finasteride in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Finasteride, a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor, is an established treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The recommended dosage is 5 mg a day, however case reports have show effectiveness with lower doses. The objective of the current study was to determine in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, previously treated for at least one year with finasteride 5 mg daily, if they will maintain subjective and objective improvements in urinary obstruction when treated with 2.5 mg of finasteride daily for one year.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an open label, prospective study, 40 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, previously treated for at least one year with 5 mg of finasteride, took 2.5 mg of finasteride daily for one year. Measurements included AUA symptom score, maximum flow rate, voided volume and PSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant changes in maximum flow rate, voided volume, or AUA symptom score after one year of finasteride 2.5 mg daily therapy. PSA increased significantly, p <.01, after one year of finasteride 2.5 mg daily, 2.0 +1.4 ng/ml, when compared to finasteride 5 mg daily, 1.4+ 1.0 ng/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The daily dose of finasteride can be reduced to 2.5 mg daily without significant effect on subjective and objective measures of urinary obstruction. Although statistically significant increases in PSA are noted when reducing the daily finasteride dose from 5 mg to 2.5 mg, the clinical significance of a mean.6 ng/ml increase in PSA is questionable.
authors.affiliation: drsullivan@ijm.net
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geller
mesh_terms: D018120:Finasteride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018120:Finasteride