By the way, doctor: Is it okay to switch from Avodart to finasteride for BPH?
The 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors shrink the prostate gland by blocking the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a form of the male hormone that acts on the gland. The alpha-1 blockers relax smooth muscle cells in the prostate and the bladder neck, where the urethra comes out of the bladder. The 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors may take awhile to work (six months to a year) but are effective in men with larger prostates. The alpha-1 blockers tend to improve urinary symptoms quickly and are usually prescribed for mild or moderate BPH.
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