Dutasteride

Generic name: Dutasteride
Brand names: Avodart
Dosage form: oral capsule (0.5 mg)
Drug class: 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors

Usage of Dutasteride

Dutasteride is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. Dutasteride helps improve urinary flow and may also reduce your need for prostate surgery later on.

dutasteride is for use in men only.

Dutasteride may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Dutasteride side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Common side effects of dutasteride may include:

decreased libido (sex drive);

decreased amount of semen released during sex;

impotence (trouble getting or keeping an erection); or

breast tenderness or enlargement.

The sexual side effects of dutasteride may continue after you stop taking this medicine. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about these side effects.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Dutasteride

You should not use dutasteride if you are allergic to dutasteride or finasteride.

Dutasteride should never be taken by a woman or a child. Dutasteride can be absorbed through the skin, and women or children should not be permitted to handle dutasteride capsules.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

liver disease.

Using dutasteride may increase your risk of developing prostate cancer. Your doctor will test your prostate specific antigen (PSA) to check for cancer while you are using this medicine.

Dutasteride is not for use by women, and this medicine can cause birth defects if a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy. Dutasteride capsules should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant.

If a woman accidentally comes into contact with this medication from a leaking capsule, wash the area with soap and water right away.

Relate drugs

How to use Dutasteride

Usual Adult Dose for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia:

0.5 mg orally once a dayUse: Treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate to reduce the risk of acute urinary retention (AUR) and BPH-related surgery.

Warnings

Dutasteride should never be taken by a woman or a child.

Dutasteride can cause birth defects if a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy. Dutasteride capsules should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or may become pregnant.

What other drugs will affect Dutasteride

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Other drugs may affect dutasteride, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.