Finasteride - Long Term use (BPH)

[Space1950]

69 yr old with BPH; getting worst - 2 events of bladder stones (2017) - 1 ER event with catheter (2019); numerous bleeding events probably due to BPH; CT scan n DRE 7/2019 negative for cancer. Recommended I start Finasteride to stop bleeding events. How long have you been on Finasteride? Anyone longer than 10 years?

6.0 PSA and prostate at 200-220g (CTscan).

Currently taking 1 Silodosin 8mg/day - flow good but see bleeding spots a couple times a week. Read that Finasteride can help stop the bleeding n shrink prostate 20%.

[John42]

Taking finasteride for about 9 years. PSA stable. Still get up once a night. Previously had a negative biopsy in 2007, but got an infection and sepsis.

[Space1950 in reply to John42]

TU for replying. R u still on it? Do u know y prostate size? (Mine200g) I read about the masked PSA #. (6.0mine). Do y have any significant side effects? JHopkins suggested finis n Silodosin and then - last resort a simple Prostatectomy surgery. Any more retentions requiring a catheter should be my whistle that it’s time for surgery. Just wondering if Finasteride will help me kick the van down the road for 10 yrs or more?

[Hidden]

Kidney stones are so very painful. I’ve been hospitalized 4 times for them. Hang in there

[Space1950 in reply to Hidden]

TU for replying. R u still on it? Do u know y prostate size? (Mine200g) I read about the masked PSA #. (6.0mine). Do y have any significant side effects? JHopkins suggested finis n Silodosin and then - last resort a simple Prostatectomy surgery. Any more retentions requiring a catheter should be my whistle that it’s time for surgery. Just wondering if Finasteride will help me kick the van down the road for 10 yrs or more?

[jazzy53]

I was on finasteride for about a half dozen years and it worked pretty well to calm my BPH. But one thing you should know -- which my primary care doctor didn't -- is that finasteride will somewhat mask your true PSA. So if, for example, your PSA measures 8.0 on finasteride, it's really about twice that. Mine rose to 14, and my urologist had to break the news that it was really about 28. This doesn't mean that finasteride drives up your PSA, just that you need to double the finding as long as you're on that drug.

[Space1950 in reply to jazzy53]

TU for replying. R u still on it? Do u know y prostate size? (Mine200g) I read about the masked PSA #. (6.0mine). Do y have any significant side effects? JHopkins suggested finis n Silodosin and then - last resort a simple Prostatectomy surgery. Any more retentions requiring a catheter should be my whistle that it’s time for surgery. Just wondering if Finasteride will help me kick the van down the road for 10 yrs or more?

[jazzy53]

I don't know my prostate size except that it was rather small, oddly. Urologist said it was very dense, clamping down on my urethra and thus making urination difficult, but not enlarged. Also I had a prosate tumor, of course, which was also pressing on my urethra. The finasteride helped with urination and I had no side effects. I later switched to Flomax so I'd get an accurate PSA reading, and it works similarly but allows for an accurate PSA reading.

[Hidden]

I am the same age as you. I had TURP (roto-rooter) surgery for BPH 14 years ago. Is there a reason why you haven't opted for that surgery? My only regret was that I hadn't had the surgery sooner. Of course, and the surgeon explained this at the time, it didn't prevent me from developing prostate cancer 3 years ago.

[Space1950]

I really didn’t have issues (flow) until these last 2 yrs or sooo. It is the urine retention in June that triggers this next phase I am in - getting on alpha blocker 24/7 (Silodosin) and wondering if Finasteride w Silo will work for next 10 yrs or more. The Finasteride would shrink n perhaps - from studies stop the bleed events - micro vessels from inflammation of P size. Perhaps in 10 yrs or so medical breakthroughs on this disease? I realize I need to monitor PSA and DREs at least twice a year as well as making sure no urine backup to effect kidney workability. Oh my....

[j-o-h-n]

To 1950,

"last resort a simple Prostatectomy surgery."

Caution: The RPD may be simple but it's the aftermath that may be complicated.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 11/05/2019 8:30 PM EST

[Space1950]

I’m not surrendering yet John. I will stay on Silodosin to stretch no surgery as long as I can.

[Mike404]

I’ve been on finasteride for hair loss for 20 years. Masked my PSA a bit and made us late to catch. I did SBRT and so far, so good. I could tell my flow was worse if I stopped finasteride. It certainly shrank my Prostate, but that made radiation easier. I’m also using Flomax now, which also helps. Best flow in years between the two (and maybe the tumor shrinking). RO has no concerns with me being on finasteride long term.