Finasteride (5-alpha-reductase inhibitor)
Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Typical Dosage: 5mg once daily
Effectiveness
55%
Safety Score
62%
Clinical Trials
13
Participants
30K
Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)
Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
62
DangerousModerateSafe
Treatment Details
Dosage Range
5mg once daily
Time to Effect
3-6 months
Treatment Duration
Lifetime
Evidence Quality
HIGHNumber Needed to Treat (NNT)
15(Treat 15 patients to see 1 additional successful outcome)
Number Needed to Harm (NNH)
15(Treat 15 patients to see 1 additional serious adverse event)
Confidence Score
90%confidence in effectiveness data
Health Economics
Annual Cost of Care
Drug Cost:$30
Monitoring:$250
Side Effect Mgmt:$125
Total Annual:$405
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Cost-Effectiveness Rating
EXCELLENTQALYs Gained
0.12
Outcome-Based Costs
Cost per Responder
$736
Finasteride (5-alpha-reductase inhibitor) Outcomes
for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+55%
Response Rate
+55%
Common Side Effects
Erectile dysfunction
+7%
Decreased libido
+4%
Ejaculatory dysfunction
+3%
Breast tenderness/enlargement
+1%
Depression
+0.5%
Sources:
Active Clinical Trials
2 active trials recruiting for Finasteride (5-alpha-reductase inhibitor) in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
New Treatment Strategies and Epigenetic Biomarker for Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
NCT06944145RECRUITINGPHASE2
242 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Boston, United States
Started: Dec 3, 2025
Prostate Medication, Metabolism and Gut Microbiota
NCT06001619RECRUITINGPHASE4
100 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Turku, Finland +1 more
Started: Dec 1, 2022
Completed Clinical Trials
10 completed trials for Finasteride (5-alpha-reductase inhibitor) in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Establishing the Benefits of Adherence to Enlarged Prostate Treatment: A Validation Study Linking Adherence to Outcomes Using the Market Scan Database
NCT01381510COMPLETED
54.5K participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: Jun 1, 2010
Demonstrating the Clinical and Economic Benefit of 5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Adherence in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
NCT01334723COMPLETED
35K participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: Apr 1, 2010
Benefits of Adherence to 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitor Treatment in Men With Enlarged Prostate: An Assessment of Medicare and Medicaid Patients Using the MarketScan Database
NCT01376258COMPLETED
28.9K participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: Oct 1, 2010
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Treatment Patterns & Outcomes: Marketscan
NCT01323998COMPLETED
35K participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: Apr 1, 2010
Evaluating the Impact of Early Versus Delayed 5 Alpha Reductase Inhibitor Treatment on the Risk of Emergent Surgery in Men With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
NCT01332487COMPLETED
4.07K participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: Aug 1, 2010
Clinical Progression and Costs in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients Treated With Early Versus Delayed Combination Therapy
NCT01435954COMPLETED
13.6K participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: Aug 1, 2010
Dutasteride After Failure of Finasteride In the Management of Symptomatic Prostatic Enlargement/Hypertrophy (BPE/H)
NCT00382356COMPLETEDNA
20 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
Started: Nov 1, 2004
Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Patients Utilizing Combination Therapy for Enlarged Prostates: A Henry Ford Database Assessment
NCT01386983COMPLETED
332 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: Mar 1, 2009
Dutasteride in Enlarged Prostate Economic Assessment: A Retrospective Database Pooled Analysis of Early 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitor Use
NCT01332435COMPLETED
6.9K participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: Nov 1, 2009
Establishing Predictors of Enlarged Prostate Treatment Adherence: Linking Symptom Improvement to Adherence
NCT01390870COMPLETED
400 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
Started: May 1, 2009