The World Health Organization's ATC classification organizes medical drugs based on therapeutic properties, chemical composition, and anatomy. It helps make essential medicines readily available globally and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.
| Level | Code | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
G | Genito urinary system and sex hormones | |
2
|
G04 | Urologicals | |
3
|
G04C | Drugs used in benign prostatic hypertrophy | |
4
|
G04CB | Testosterone-5-alpha reductase inhibitors |
| Code | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| G04CB01 | Finasteride | |
| G04CB02 | Dutasteride | |
| G04CB51 |
| Active Ingredient |
|---|
|
Dutasteride reduces circulating levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by inhibiting both type 1 and type 2, 5α-reductase isoenzymes which are responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT. |
|
Finasteride is a competitive inhibitor of human 5α-reductase, an intracellular enzyme which metabolises testosterone into the more potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), enlargement of the prostate gland is dependent upon the conversion of testosterone to DHT within the prostate. Finasteride is highly effective in reducing circulating and intraprostatic DHT. Finasteride has no affinity for the androgen receptor. |
| Document | Type | Information Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avodart 0.5mg soft capsules | MPI, EU: SmPC | Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) | |
| FINCAR Tablet | MPI, US: SPL/PLR | Web Search | |
| FINIDE Film-coated tablet | MPI, EU: SmPC | Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (AU) | |
| PROSCAR Film-coated tablet | MPI, EU: SmPC | Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) |