Health Centres - Avodart
How does it work?
Avodart capsules contain the active ingredient dutasteride, which is a type of medicine called a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
Dutasteride works by inhibiting the action of a compound in the body called 5-alpha reductase. This compound is called an enzyme, and is responsible for converting the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a more active form of testosterone.
The enlargement of the prostate gland, (known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia), which often occurs in men with advancing age, is dependant upon testosterone being converted to DHT within the prostate gland. In the absence of DHT the prostate gland shrinks. By decreasing the amount of testosterone that is converted into DHT, dutasteride therefore helps to shrink the prostate gland.
The prostate gland is found only in men and lies at the top of the tube connecting the bladder to the outside (urethra). Enlargement of the prostate causes it to press on the urethra and bladder and can cause urinary symptoms such as difficulty passing urine and increased need to urinate, particularly at night. By shrinking the prostate, dutasteride relieves the pressure on the bladder and urethra. This allows urine to flow freely past the prostate and relieves the urinary symptoms associated with this condition.
Dutasteride is used to relieve moderate to severe symptoms of BPH and to reduce the risk of developing a complete inability to pass urine (acute urinary retention) that may require surgery.
You may see an improvement in your symptoms soon after starting treatment with this medicine, but most men will need to take it for at least six months to see if it helps.
What is it used for?
Warning!
- This medicine does not cause prostate cancer, but prostate cancer can be another cause of an enlarged prostate gland. For this reason, tests for prostate cancer should be carried out before you start treatment with this medicine, and at regular intervals thereafter. One test that can be carried out is a digital rectal examination (DRE). The other is to measure the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. This medicine can decrease the amount of PSA in the blood by about 50 per cent after six months treatment, even in men who have prostate cancer. Your doctor will take this into account when interpreting the results of any blood tests.
- This medicine has been reported to affect semen characteristics (reduction in sperm count, semen volume, and sperm motility) in healthy men. This means that there is a possiblity that it may therefore reduce your fertility and ability to father a child. If this is a concern to you, you should discuss fertility with your doctor before starting treatment.
- While you are taking this medicine you should use a condom during sex if your sexual partner is pregnant or could become pregnant. This is because the active ingredient of this medicine passes into semen, and could harm the development of a male baby.
- Dutasteride can be absorbed through the skin and for this reason women, children and adolescents should avoid contact with any capsules of this medicine that are leaking. If contact is made with leaking capsules, the contact area should be washed immediately with soap and water.
Use with caution in
- Mild to moderately decreased liver function
Not to be used in
- Women
- Children or adolescents under 18 years of age
- Allergy to other 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, eg finasteride
- Severely decreased liver function
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- This medicine is for use by men only, therefore information about its use by pregnant or breastfeeding women is not applicable. However, this medicine may pass into semen. For this reason, men whose partner is or may be pregnant should use a barrier form of contraception such as a condom during sex, to avoid any possible risks to a developing male baby.
Label warnings
- This medication is to be swallowed whole, not chewed.
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