The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7299 p605
15 May 2004

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· Pharmacy education
· Prostate problems
· Indemnity insurance
· The register
· The Journal
· The profession
· Energy expenditure

Letters to the Editor

Prostate problems

There is evidence for adding finasteride to alpha-blocker

From Mr W. M. Hussain, MRPharmS

I enjoyed reading Christine Clark’s article on prostate problems and prostate cancer (PJ, 24 April, p511). However, I would like to point out that there is evidence for adding finasteride to an alpha-blocker, specifically doxazosin, in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.¹ It is particularly indicated for men with a prostate specific antigen level greater than 4ng/ml and a prostatic volume greater than 40ml. Combination therapy significantly reduced the progression of signs and symptoms of the disease compared with either monotherapy.

Wissam Hussain
Southend Hospital,
Westcliff on Sea, Essex

Reference

1. McConell JM, Roehrborn CG, Bautista OM, Andriole GL, Dixon CM, Kusek JW. The long-term effect of doxazosin, finasteride and combination therapy on the clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia. New England Journal of Medicine 2003;349:2387–98.

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