Dutasteride

Pronounced doo-TAS-ter-ide

Brand names: Avodart

Type: 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (prostate medicine) · All Other Medicines

What Dutasteride is used for

  • Enlarged prostate
  • Reducing risk of urinary retention and prostate surgery

Common side effects

  • Reduced sex drive
  • Erection problems
  • Reduced semen amount
  • Breast tenderness or enlargement

Important cautions

  • Lowers PSA readings substantially — screening results must be interpreted with this in mind
  • Women who are or may become pregnant must not handle leaking capsules; blood donation is deferred for a period after stopping because of risk to a pregnant transfusion recipient

How it comes

Capsules. This guide lists forms only — it never lists strengths or doses.

Please note: This page is a patient-education summary, not medical advice, and it deliberately contains no doses. Medicines affect everyone differently — always follow your own prescription and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.