Hormone
finasteride Audio
[ fi-nas-tuh-rahyd ]
Brand Names:
Propecia; Proscar
Effect:
Decreased Dihydrotestosterone Secretion
May Treat:
Alopecia; Hirsutism; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Prostatic Neoplasms
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to finasteride:
  • A drug used to reduce the amount of male hormone (testosterone) produced by the body.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A medication for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate gland).
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • A synthetic 4-azasteroid compound. Finasteride competitively binds to and inhibits steroid type II 5-alpha-reductase in the prostate gland, liver, and skin, thereby interfering with the enzymatic conversion of testosterone to 5-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and reducing serum DHT levels. The reduction in serum DHT levels results in diminished stimulation of androgen receptors in the nuclei of prostate cells and, so, diminished prostate cell proliferation.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • An orally active 3-OXO-5-ALPHA-STEROID 4-DEHYDROGENASE inhibitor. It is used as a surgical alternative for treatment of benign PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Orally active testosterone 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, used as an alternative to surgery for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
Try this search on: Farlex, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, or Wordnik

This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.