Endocrine drugs: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Endocrine drugs: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors

Sample item

A 58-year-old man with benign prostatic hyperplasia and a large prostate is given finasteride. Which statement is correct?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. It inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, reducing prostate size over months

Finasteride inhibits type 2 5-alpha reductase and shrinks the prostate slowly, and it also treats male pattern baldness. It lowers PSA by about half, so PSA values are doubled for interpretation, and pregnant women should not handle crushed tablets.

Option by option

  • A. It lowers PSA by half and this should be ignored

    The PSA change must be accounted for, not ignored.

  • B. It is safe for pregnant women to handle crushed tablets

    Pregnant women should avoid contact because of feminisation of a male fetus.

  • C. It inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, reducing prostate size over months (correct)

    Correct. DHT reduction shrinks the prostate.

  • D. It blocks alpha-1A receptors for rapid relief

    Alpha-1A blockade describes tamsulosin.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, It inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, reducing prostate size over months. Finasteride inhibits type 2 5-alpha reductase and shrinks the prostate slowly, and it also treats male pattern baldness.

Why is "It lowers PSA by half and this should be ignored" not the answer?

The PSA change must be accounted for, not ignored.

Why is "It is safe for pregnant women to handle crushed tablets" not the answer?

Pregnant women should avoid contact because of feminisation of a male fetus.

Why is "It blocks alpha-1A receptors for rapid relief" not the answer?

Alpha-1A blockade describes tamsulosin.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrine drugs: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors in Pharmacology. It lowers PSA by about half, so PSA values are doubled for interpretation, and pregnant women should not handle crushed tablets.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Endocrine drugs: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.