Reply

Dr Rassman wrote: Review of the Korean study for this drug indicates that it is safe and effective drug with side effects consistent but slightly higher than those in the finasteride study. The tests, however, did not study the impact of this drug on sperm count. One doctor present at the meeting reported two patients who had become sterile while on the drug (one being his son). Both men, upon stopping the drug, found their sperm count returned to normal. The failure to study sperm count is, in my opinion, a major oversight in the Korean study from a safety point of view. Based upon this private report, I will not prescribe dutasteride without at least 2 years of treatment on finasteride or a frank failure of the finasteride. I will require that anyone getting a prescription from me (each case would be individualized) would have to sign a legal document that states they recognize that sterility is a possible side effect and risk of the drug.