{"id":5775,"date":"2020-12-25T15:48:54","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T15:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/?p=5775"},"modified":"2021-07-12T06:42:04","modified_gmt":"2021-07-12T06:42:04","slug":"avodart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/avodart\/","title":{"rendered":"Avodart &#8211; Dutasteride uses, dose and side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>\n\n0.5 mg&nbsp;soft capsules&nbsp;<br>dutasteride<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. What Avodart is and what it is used for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Avodart is used to treat men with an enlarged&nbsp;prostate<\/strong>&nbsp;(&nbsp;benign&nbsp;prostatic hyperplasia&nbsp;) &#8211; growth of the non-&nbsp;cancerous&nbsp;prostate gland&nbsp;caused by overproduction of a&nbsp;hormone&nbsp;called&nbsp;dihydrotestosterone&nbsp;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The active substance is dutasteride.&nbsp;It belongs to a group of medicines called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the prostate increases in size, it can lead to problems with urination, such as difficulty starting to urinate and the need to urinate more often.&nbsp;It can also cause the flow of urine to be slower or less powerful.&nbsp;If treatment is not given, there is a risk that the urine flow will be completely blocked (&nbsp;acute&nbsp;urinary incontinence).&nbsp;This requires immediate treatment.&nbsp;In some situations, it is necessary to have surgery to remove the prostate or reduce its size.&nbsp;Avodart reduces the production of&nbsp;dihydrotestosterone&nbsp;, which causes the prostate to shrink and the symptoms to be relieved.&nbsp;This means that the risk of&nbsp;acute&nbsp;urinary incontinence and the need for surgical treatment is reduced.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Avodart can also be used with another medicine called tamsulosin (which is used to treat the symptoms of an enlarged&nbsp;prostate&nbsp;).<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. What you need to know before taking Avodart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do not take Avodart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>if you are allergic to dutasteride, any other 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, soy, peanuts<\/strong>&nbsp;or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).<\/li><li><strong>if you have severe hepatic impairment.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If you think any of these apply to you,&nbsp;<strong>do not take<\/strong>&nbsp;this medicine without consulting your doctor.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This medicine should only be used by men.&nbsp;<\/strong>It should not be taken by women, children or adolescents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warnings and cautions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Talk to your doctor before taking Avodart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Your doctor must tell you if you have liver problems.&nbsp;<\/strong>If you have had any disease that affects your liver, you may need to do some extra checks while using Avodart.<\/li><li><strong>Women, children and adolescents<\/strong>&nbsp;should not handle leaky Avodart capsules, as the active substance may be absorbed through the skin.&nbsp;In case of skin contact, the area must be&nbsp;<strong>washed immediately with soap and water.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Use a condom during intercourse.&nbsp;<\/strong>Dutasteride has been found in the semen of men taking Avodart.&nbsp;If your partner is or may be pregnant, you must avoid her coming into contact with your semen, as dutasteride may affect the normal development of a male fetus.&nbsp;Dutasteride has been shown to reduce the number of sperm, the amount of semen and the motility of sperm.&nbsp;This can reduce your&nbsp;fertility&nbsp;.<\/li><li><strong>Avodart affects&nbsp;blood tests&nbsp;for PSA<\/strong>&nbsp;(&nbsp;<em>prostate-specific antigen<\/em>&nbsp;), which is sometimes used to detect prostate cancer.&nbsp;Your doctor should be aware of this and may still use the test to detect prostate cancer.&nbsp;If you are going to take a blood test for PSA, tell your doctor that you are taking Avodart.&nbsp;<strong>Men taking Avodart should have their PSA tested regularly.<\/strong><\/li><li>In a&nbsp;clinical study&nbsp;involving men with an increased risk of prostate cancer, men who took Avodart more often had a more severe form of prostate cancer than men who did not take Avodart.&nbsp;The effect of Avodart on this serious form of prostate cancer has not been established.<\/li><li><strong>Avodart can cause breast enlargement and soreness:<\/strong>&nbsp;If this becomes bothersome or if you notice lumps in the breasts or discharge from the nipple, talk to your doctor about these changes as it may be a sign of a serious condition, such as breast cancer.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Contact your doctor or pharmacist<\/strong>&nbsp;if you have any questions about treatment with Avodart.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other medicines and Avodart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some medicines can react with Avodart and increase the risk of&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;.&nbsp;Drugs covered are<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>verapamil or&nbsp;diltiazem<\/strong>&nbsp;(for high&nbsp;blood pressure&nbsp;)<\/li><li><strong>ritonavir or indinavir<\/strong>&nbsp;(for&nbsp;HIV&nbsp;)<\/li><li><strong>itraconazole or&nbsp;ketoconazole<\/strong>&nbsp;(against fungal infections)<\/li><li><strong>nefazodone<\/strong>&nbsp;(an antidepressant drug)<\/li><li><strong>alpha-blockers<\/strong>&nbsp;(for enlarged&nbsp;prostate&nbsp;or high&nbsp;blood pressure&nbsp;).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Tell your doctor<\/strong>&nbsp;if you are taking any of these medicines.&nbsp;Your&nbsp;dose&nbsp;of Avodart may need to be reduced.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avodart with food and drink<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Avodart can be taken with or without food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Women who are pregnant (or may be pregnant) must not handle leaking capsules.&nbsp;<\/strong>Dutasteride is absorbed through the skin and may affect the normal development of a male fetus.&nbsp;This risk is particularly pronounced during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Use a condom during intercourse.&nbsp;<\/strong>Dutasteride has been found in the semen of men who use Avodart.&nbsp;If your partner is or may be pregnant, you must avoid her coming into contact with your semen.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Avodart can reduce the number of sperm, reduce the amount of semen and reduce the motility of the sperm.&nbsp;Therefore, male&nbsp;fertility&nbsp;may be impaired.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Ask a doctor<\/strong>&nbsp;if a pregnant woman has come into contact with dutasteride.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Driving and using machines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Avodart is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avodart contains lecithin from soy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine contains soy lecithin, which may contain soybean oil.&nbsp;If you are allergic to peanuts or soy, do not take this medicine.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. How to take Avodart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Always take Avodart exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.&nbsp;<\/strong>If you do not take it regularly, the monitoring of your PSA values \u200b\u200bmay be affected.&nbsp;Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How much to take<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>The recommended&nbsp;dose&nbsp;is one capsule (0.5 mg) per day<\/strong>&nbsp;.&nbsp;Swallow the capsule whole with water.&nbsp;Do not chew or break the capsule.&nbsp;Contact with the contents of the capsule may cause irritation of the mouth or throat.<\/li><li>Avodart is a long-term treatment.&nbsp;Some men notice an early improvement in symptoms.&nbsp;Others may need to take Avodart for 6 months or more to take effect.&nbsp;Take Avodart for as long as your doctor prescribes it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you use more Avodart than you should &nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have taken too many Avodart capsules, ask your doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you forget to take Avodart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not take a double&nbsp;dose&nbsp;to make up for a forgotten&nbsp;dose&nbsp;.&nbsp;Take the next&nbsp;dose&nbsp;as usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do not stop taking Avodart without advice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not stop taking Avodart without talking to your doctor first.&nbsp;It may take up to 6 months or more before you notice any effect.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Possible side effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Like all medicines, this medicine can cause&nbsp;side effects,&nbsp;although not everybody gets them.<\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Allergic reactions<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>Signs of allergic reactions may be<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>skin rash<\/strong>&nbsp;(which may itch)<\/li><li><strong>hives<\/strong>&nbsp;(&nbsp;hives&nbsp;)<\/li><li><strong>swelling of eyelids, face, lips, arms or legs.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Contact your doctor immediately<\/strong>&nbsp;if you experience any of these symptoms and&nbsp;<strong>stop using Avodart.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Common&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;are<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>These can occur in up to 1 in 10 men taking Avodart:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>inability to achieve or maintain an&nbsp;erection&nbsp;(&nbsp;<em>impotence<\/em>&nbsp;), this may continue after you stop taking Avodart<\/li><li>decrease in&nbsp;<em>libido<\/em>&nbsp;, this may continue after you stop taking Avodart<\/li><li>difficulty with ejaculation, e.g.&nbsp;decreased amount of semen released during sexual intercourse, this may continue after you stop taking Avodart<\/li><li>swollen or sore breasts (&nbsp;<em>gynecomastia<\/em>&nbsp;)<\/li><li>dizziness when taken with tamsulosin.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Uncommon&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;are<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>These can occur in up to 1 in 100 men taking Avodart.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>heart failure&nbsp;(the heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood around the body. You may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, and swelling in your ankles and legs)<\/li><li>hair loss (usually from the body) or hair growth.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Has been reported<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Occurs in an unknown number of users:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Depression<\/li><li>pain and swelling in your testicles.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Reporting of side effects<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.&nbsp;This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.&nbsp;You can also report side effects directly to the Medical Products Agency,&nbsp;www.lakemedelsverket.se.&nbsp;By reporting side effects, you can help increase drug safety information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. How to store Avodart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not store above 30 \u00b0 C.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and on the capsules.&nbsp;The expiration date is the last day of the specified month.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.&nbsp;Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required.&nbsp;These measures will help to protect the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Contents of the packaging and other information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Content declaration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The active substance is dutasteride.&nbsp;<\/strong>Each soft capsule contains 0.5 mg dutasteride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other ingredients are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>in the solution inside the capsule: mono- and diglycerides of octanoic acid \/ decanoic acid and butylhydroxytoluene (E321)<\/li><li>capsule shell: gelatin,&nbsp;glycerol&nbsp;, titanium dioxide (E171), yellow iron oxide (E172),&nbsp;triglycerides&nbsp;(medium-chain) and lecithin (may contain soybean oil).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the medicine looks like and the contents of the pack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Avodart soft capsules are oblong, opaque, yellow, soft gelatin capsules marked GX CE2.&nbsp;They are supplied in pressure packs of 10, 30, 50, 60 or 90 capsules.&nbsp;Not all pack sizes may be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Marketing Authorisation Holder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GlaxoSmithKline (Ireland) Limited, 12 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Ireland<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manufacturer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals SA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ul.&nbsp;Grunwaldzka 189<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>60-322 Poznan<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Poland<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>or<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aspen Bad Oldesloe GmbH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Industriestrasse 32-36<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>23843 Bad Oldesloe<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Germany<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This medicinal product is authorized under the European Economic Area under the names:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Avodart<\/em>&nbsp;&#8211; Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Kingdom, , Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Austria<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Avidart<\/em>&nbsp;&#8211; Spain<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Avodart is used to treat men with an enlarged prostate ( benign prostatic hyperplasia ) &#8211; growth of the non- cancerous prostate gland caused by overproduction of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2201,2200],"tags":[9570,9572,9565,9568,9574,9569,9573,9567,9571,9566],"class_list":["post-5775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a","category-medicines","tag-avodart","tag-avodart-capdule","tag-dutasteride","tag-dutasteride-capsules","tag-side-effects-of-avodart","tag-side-effects-of-dutasteride","tag-what-avodart-is-used-for","tag-what-dutasteride-is-used-for","tag-what-is-avodart","tag-what-is-dutasteride"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5775"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12274,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5775\/revisions\/12274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}