If you haven’t already heard, you may want to know what the FDA has to say about Proscar and Avodart. There has been a warning issued from the FDA regarding an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer with the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart), which are currently approved to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy.
The agency recently announced that it has updated the Warnings and Precautions section of labels for the class of drugs, including the branded products Propecia and Jalyn, to reflect the increased risk.
According to the acency, “This risk appears to be low, but healthcare professionals should be aware of this safety information, and weigh the known benefits against the potential risks when deciding to start or continue treatment with 5-ARIs in men.”
Avodart, Jalyn, and Proscar are approved to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Propecia, at a 1-mg dose, is approved to treat hair loss in men.
These drugs are not only linked to a higher incidence of high-grade tumors, but they have also demonstrated to be potentially chemopreventive.
The handling of low-grade prostate cancer is still in controversy to the urology community, mainly because it is still unknown whether the low-grade tumors would ever develop into high-grade tumors, but also because the method used to originally detect prostate cancer (the PSA test) is inexact.
How many people may this new information effect? Well, according to the FDA, five million men received a prescription for a 5-ARI between 2002 and 2009.
Click here to learn more about the studies conducted.
Dr. Berger is a renowned leader in cosmetic and anti-aging medicine, bringing over 25 years of diverse medical experience to his practice. He earned his medical degree from the University of Ottawa and completed advanced training in Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology at McGill University. Dr. Berger was board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine for two decades and is a diplomat of the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Berger has developed expertise in clinical and medical management, pharmacology, nutraceuticals, emergency medicine, cosmetic surgery, cosmetic medicine, anti-aging, holistic, and regenerative medicine. Dr. Berger’s unique approach blends traditional Western medical training with integrative and preventative therapies, including Eastern Medicine. He is passionate about helping patients achieve both inner health and outer beauty, believing that a balance of anti-aging medicine and non-surgical cosmetic therapies is key to emotional, physical, and mental well-being. By combining the latest medical advancements with holistic care, Dr. Berger empowers his patients to look and feel their best, while also focusing on prevention and long-term wellness.
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