HOSA Pharmacy Science Assessment Practice Test

Finasteride is primarily indicated for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition in which the prostate gland enlarges, leading to urinary difficulties. The medication works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). High levels of DHT can lead to an enlarged prostate, so by lowering DHT levels, finasteride reduces the size of the prostate, alleviating symptoms associated with BPH such as difficulty in urination and the need to urinate frequently.

This role of finasteride is well established in clinical practice, particularly for older men who often experience this condition as a part of aging. As for the other options, they do not align with the established uses of finasteride. Infection treatment, for example, would typically involve antibiotics rather than a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Cancer treatment is more associated with other chemicals that specifically target cancer cells, and chronic pain management typically involves analgesics that directly address pain, not medications that modify hormone pathways.