Alternate-day low-dose Dutasteride improves prostate health with alpha-blockers

Posted in ‘Medicine, Baltimore’, a novel prospective study aimed to examine how variable doses of Dutasteride in combination affect patients with Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPE).

BPE is a commonly observed disease in ageing men which affects about 90% of men in their 80's.

Included in this randomised study were 300 men who had moderate to severe urinary tract infections caused by BPE, and had a prostate volume of more than 40 cc. Three groups comprising 100 members each were administered the combination therapies under:

• Group I patients were administered Tamsulosin 0.4 mg + Dutasteride 0.5 mg daily
• Group II patients were administered Tamsulosin 0.4 mg + Dutasteride 0.5 mg every other day
• Group III patients were given Tamsulosin 0.4 mg + Dutasteride 0.5 mg on a weekly basis

Patients were followed up every 3 months for a year to evaluate the efficacy and safety along with the medication’s effect on prostate size and erectile function.

After one year of treatment, each group experienced a notable improvement in their symptom scores. In terms of prostate size, Group I and II showed signs of prostate reduction but no changes were seen in Group III. After 12 months, Group I showed a substantial shift in sexual dysfunction.

Summing up, alternate-day Dutasteride is as effective as daily dosing for prostate size with better preserves sexual function.