Finasteride (Proscar) CAS NO.98319-26-7

Proscar prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. DHT is involved in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Proscar is used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate.

Proscar may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

 Proscar should never be taken by a woman or a child. Finasteride can be absorbed through the skin, and women or children should not be permitted to handle Proscar tablets.

To make sure you can safely take Proscar, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

liver disease, or abnormal liver enzyme tests;

prostate cancer;

a bladder muscle disorder;

stricture of your urethra;

if you are unable to urinate; or/p>

if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a similar medicine called dutasteride (Avodart).

Using Proscar may increase your risk of developing prostate cancer. Your doctor will perform tests to make sure you do not have other conditions that would prevent you from safely using finasteride.

 

Although Proscar is not for use by women, this medication can cause birth defects if a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy. Proscar tablets should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. If a woman accidentally comes into contact with this medication from a broken or crushed tablet, wash the area with soap and water right away.

Description

5α-Reductase catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of Δ4,5 double bonds in several steroid substrates, including testosterone, which is converted to dihydrotestosterone, the primary mediator of prostate growth.1 The 5α-reductase enzymes responsible for the reduction of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone exists as two forms: type I, which occurs in the skin, liver, and ventral prostate and type II, which is expressed in ventral prostate, epididymis, and other reproductive tissues.2 Finasteride is a 4-azasteroid analog of testosterone that competitively blocks type II 5α-reductase activity (IC50 = 4.2 nM) with 100-fold greater affinity than for the type I enzyme.2 It has been used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, decreasing human prostatic dihydrotestosterone levels by 70-90% and reducing prostatic size.2 However, at 10 μM finasteride has also been shown to induce the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in androgen refractory prostrate PC-3 cells, which has been implicated in increased high-grade prostate tumor formation.3 Also, at 0.1 μM finasteride can inhibit testosterone-induced type I procollagen and TGF-β1 expression in human scalp dermal fibroblasts in a model of androgenic alopecia.4