Post-finasteride syndrome: our current knowledge
https://doi.org/10.21886/2308-6424-2020-8-2-50-54
Abstract
5-α reductase inhibitors are effective and commonly used medications for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, there are some questions about the safety of such medications. A post-finasteride syndrome is a controversial syndrome associated with a constellation of sexual, physical, and psychological symptoms that develop during or after finasteride exposure and persist after discontinuation. Finasteride and dutasteride have the same mechanism of action and we can suppose that the term «post-finasteride syndrome» may apply to the whole group of 5-alfa reductase inhibitors. Nowadays, reasons and development mechanisms of this syndrome are unclear. The results of studies on sexual, physical, and psychological disorders have shown mixed results. Some experts attribute post-finasteride syndrome to a group of «mysterious diseases» based on psychosocial factors. Also, we need new studies with better design because reasons and development mechanisms of this syndrome are unclear.
Aleksandr A. Galushkin and Dmitriу G. Likhikh are employees GlaxoSmithKline Trading, Michael I. Kogan declares no conflict of interest.
About the Authors
A. A. Galushkin
GlaxoSmithKline Trading
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Aleksandr A. Galushkin – M.D., Cand.Sc.(M); Medical Scientific Expert for Urology and Antiinfectives
Medical Department
D. G. Likhikh
GlaxoSmithKline Trading
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Dmitriу G. Likhikh ‒ M.D., Cand.Sc.(M); Medical Affairs Manager, Urology Portfolio
Medical Department
M. I. Kogan
Rostov State Medical University
Russian Federation
Mikhail I. Kogan – Honored Scientist of Russian Federation, M.D., Dr.Sc.(M), Full Prof.; Head, Dept. of Urology and Human Reproductive Health (with the Pediatric Urology and Andrology Сourse)
Russian Federation
Mikhail I. Kogan – Honored Scientist of Russian Federation, M.D., Dr.Sc.(M), Full Prof.; Head, Dept. of Urology and Human Reproductive Health (with the Pediatric Urology and Andrology Сourse)
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Review
For citations:
Galushkin A.A., Likhikh D.G., Kogan M.I. Post-finasteride syndrome: our current knowledge. Urology Herald. 2020;8(2):50-54. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21886/2308-6424-2020-8-2-50-54
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