AVODART: MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AGAINST BPH

2009-02-12T22:06:00.000-08:00

People suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) now have a way out of their predicament: a new drug with increased efficiency against the symptoms of BPH is now on the market. Avodart (chemical name: dutasteride) is an inhibitor of 5α-reductase (5AR). This enzyme breaks down the hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the primary agent in controlling prostatic growth. Briefly, DHT attaches to the androgen receptors of the prostatic epithelial cells and causes the release of growth factors. As a result of its slow dissociation from receptors, DHT has a prolonged effect. The enlargement of the prostate glands results, with the set of uncomfortable symptoms: urinary frequency, intermittency, urgency, weak stream, and nocturia (i.e. voiding at night). Avodart can be prescribed under medical supervision for the treatment of BPH in men with an enlarged prostate in order to relieve symptoms and reduce the need of surgery (which entails significant risks).

How does Avodart function?

The mechanism of action of Avodart is simply to prevent the production of DHT by reducing the action of the enzymes that metabolize testosterone into it. Clinical tests show that daily ingestion of 0.5mg of Avodart leads to as much as 85-90% reduction in blood serum concentration of DHT. Prolonged treatment with Avodart (up to 4 years) shows a decrease in DHT blood concentration of 95%. The main advantage of Avodart is that it does not attach to androgen receptors and therefore does not limit the action of other androgens.

Clinical Efficiency

The efficiency of Avodart on relieving the symptoms of BPH is quite significant. The following table reviews the results of clinical tests on two groups of people suffering from BPH: one treated with Avodart and the other with a placebo.

Symptom/Condition	Occurrence
	Avodart Group	Placebo Group
Incidence of Acute Urinary Retention	1.8%	4.2%
Need for surgery	2.2%	4.1%
Prostate Volume	-24.7%	-3.4%
Increase in Maximum Urine Flow Rate	1.6mL/second	0.7 mL/second

It is therefore evident that Avodart has a marked effect on reducing the symptoms of BPH. It also reduces the need for patients to undertake risky surgery.

Side Effects?

In most healthy subjects, no significant hormone level changes were noted except for a decrease in DHT and an increase in testosterone. As regards, effects on the reproductive function, the following effects were apparent:

Condition	%Change
Total Sperm Count	-23%
Semen Volume	-26%
Sperm Motility	-18%

Sperm concentration and morphology were intact. The above changes are not reported to affect an individual’s fertility to a great extent.

Other possible side effects include: impotence, decreased sex drive, enlarged breasts, and allergic reactions. These events, however, are not reported to have occurred frequently.

Special Groups

Avodart cannot be taken by women and children. Pregnant women should not consume or even handle Avodart capsules (as the product can be absorbed by the skin). If a pregnant woman has ingested Avodart in sufficient amounts, the male fetus may be born with abnormal sex organs.

Other Considerations

Avodart is reported to cause a decrease in Prostate-Specific Antigens (PSA) in the blood. PSA is normally used to detect prostate cancer. The doctor should take this factor into consideration when testing for prostate cancer in people undergoing treatment with Avodart.

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Generic Avodart
GENERIC LEVITRA
GENERIC CIALIS

Category:Men Health