Questions and Answers
What is the drug class of Finasteride?
What are the main uses of Finasteride?
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy and Male Pattern Alopecia
What is the route of administration for Finasteride?
Oral
Dose adjustments are necessary for geriatric patients taking Finasteride.
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What should pregnant women avoid regarding Finasteride?
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What are the contraindications for Finasteride?
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Finasteride works by inhibiting ________ which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.
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What are common adverse effects of Finasteride?
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What is the pregnancy category of Finasteride?
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What indicates the efficacy of Finasteride within 6 months of therapy?
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How is Finasteride primarily metabolized?
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What should patients taking Finasteride report immediately?
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Study Notes
Drug Class
- Finasteride is classified as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor and an alopecia agent.
Uses
- Commonly prescribed for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) and Male Pattern Alopecia.
Administration
- Administered orally; can be taken with or without food.
- Pregnant women should avoid handling crushed/broken tablets due to possible absorption risks to a male fetus.
Dosage Adjustments
- No dosage adjustments needed for chronic renal impairment or geriatric patients.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to any component is a contraindication.
- Not indicated during pregnancy, whether known or suspected.
Precautions
- Use with caution in cases of hepatic impairment; finasteride is extensively metabolized.
- Potentially increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer reported.
- Serum PSA levels may decrease; regular monitoring recommended.
- Not indicated for pediatric or female patients.
Adverse Effects
- Common: Abnormal ejaculation (1.2% to 7.2%), breast tenderness (0.4% to 0.7%), reduced libido (1.8% to 10%).
- Serious: Potential neoplasms in the male breast and high-grade prostate cancer (1.8%).
Pregnancy Category
- Category X, indicating significant risks during pregnancy.
Monitoring
- A reduction in baseline PSA concentration by approximately 50% within 6 months indicates efficacy.
- Improvements in BPH symptoms (e.g., urinary flow and volume) also signal effectiveness.
- Monitor PSA periodically after setting a new baseline at least 6 months post-initiation.
- Regular checks for prostate cancer and other urological issues, especially in high-risk patients.
Mechanism of Action (MOA)
- Finasteride inhibits the activity of 5-alpha reductase type 2, preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
- This reduction in DHT levels helps alleviate prostate enlargement in BPH and disrupts male-pattern balding in alopecia.
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption: Peak concentration (Tmax) occurs within 1.3 to 1.8 hours; bioavailability is approximately 65% to 63% based on the tablet dosage.
- Distribution: Volume of distribution is 76 L with 90% protein binding.
- Metabolism: Extensively processed in the liver via the CYP3A4 pathway, yielding active metabolites.
- Excretion: Roughly 57% is eliminated through feces and 39% through urine as metabolites.
- Elimination half-life ranges from 4.5 to 8.2 hours based on age.
Medication Counseling
- Advise pregnant women to avoid contact with crushed or broken tablets.
- Inform patients of potential side effects such as erectile dysfunction and lowered libido.
- Encourage immediate reporting of breast changes, such as lumps or tenderness.
- Clarify that hair loss treatment benefits may take 3 months or longer to notice.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Finasteride with these flashcards covering its drug class, uses, administration routes, and dose adjustments. Perfect for students or professionals wanting to reinforce their understanding of this medication used for benign prostatic hypertrophy and male pattern alopecia.
