(12-04-2015, 10:21 AM)spanky Wrote: I recently took note of warnings about 5 alpha reductase inhibitors possibly being associated with more aggressive prostate cancers.
http://www.drugs.com/fda/5-alpha-reducta...12977.html
Has there been further research to counter the warnings? I have been faithfully taking reishi for many months, but maybe there are risks that I should be taking into account.
Hi Spanky, I did some checking, the main point would be to monitor your health with a PCP and get regular PSA screenings while on 5 ar therapy. There are other therapies discussed besides using 5 ar inhibitors, Reishi is an herbal remedy that's been used for a long time (ancient), and of course other herbals like SP, green tea, etc.
Questions and Answers: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) may increase the risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer
On June 9, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the public of new safety information for drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs). Men who take these drugs may have an increased risk of being diagnosed with a more serious form of prostate cancer (high-grade prostate cancer). The Warnings and Precautions section of the labels for all FDA-approved 5-ARIs have been revised to include information about this risk.
The following questions and answers address potential issues raised by this safety information.
Q1. What are 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs)?
Q2. What is high-grade prostate cancer?
Q3. Why have the labels of all 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) been revised?
Q4. What data are available on this safety issue?
Q5. Why is the labeling of Propecia being changed when this drug was not included in either study?
Q6. Does FDA believe the benefits of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) still outweigh their risks for the approved indications?
Q7. What should men do if they are currently taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs)?
Q8. How should men taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) be screened for prostate cancer?
Q9. Are there other medications to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or male pattern baldness?
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm258358.htm
Hyperplasia Medications Do Not Increase Mortality In Men With Prostate Can
http://www.healthylivingmagazine.us/Articles/9107/
Dr. William D. Figg, from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, and Dr. Ian M. Thompson, from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas wrote a commentary related to this report. Dr. Figg told Reuters Health by email, "These data should ease the concern of some urologists who have patients that need a 5-ARI, that it is safe to prescribe and that those patients are not at an increased risk of developing high-grade aggressive types of prostate cancer."
"I think the FDA should clearly re-evaluate the warning '5-alpha reductase inhibitor may increase the risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer' (Here:
http://1.usa.gov/1yNWbgG), " Dr. Figg said.
Utility of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in active surveillance for favourable risk prostate cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...12-450.pdf
American Urological Association Symptom Index - Topic Overview
http://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinenc...c-overview
It's a interactive questionnaire that can help you determine how bad your urinary symptoms are and check how well your treatment is working.
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Serum estrogen levels and prostate cancer risk in the prostate cancer prevention trial: a nested case–control study
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...e_9787.pdf