Question

Albert is taking dutasteride, an antiandrogen, for benign prostatic hyperplasia. What is the action of this drug?

a. It suppresses prostate growth.
b. It causes the prostate to atrophy.
c. It shrinks abnormal prostate cells.
d. It alters the size of the ureters, through which urine passes.

Answer 1

Dutasteride, an antiandrogen used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, works by suppressing prostate growth through the inhibition of DHT production.

Step-by-step explanation:

Albert is taking dutasteride, an antiandrogen, for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The action of dutasteride is to suppress prostate growth. This medication inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that contributes to prostate growth. By reducing the levels of DHT, dutasteride helps to shrink the size of an enlarged prostate, providing relief from the urinary symptoms associated with BPH. However, dutasteride does not alter the size of the ureters, but rather targets abnormal prostate cells causing constriction of the urethra.