What is Dutasteride?
Dutasteride belongs to the Type I and II 5 Alpha-reductase Inhibitor family of medications.
It’s primarily used as a treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) in people assigned male at birth, who have enlarged prostates.
For more resources, including a full list of the risks and benefits of Dutasteride, please review the product monograph.
How does Dutasteride work?
Prostate growth is caused by a hormone in the blood called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dutasteride lowers DHT production in the body, leading to a shrinkage of the enlarged prostate in most people.
In turn, this may lead to improvements in BPH symptoms, improved urinary flow, reduced risk of acute urinary retention (or where the patient suddenly can’t urinate at all), and a reduced risk for the need for BPH related surgery.
What is Dutasteride used to treat?
In some cases, Dutasteride is used alone (monotherapy), as a treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in people assigned as male at birth that have enlarged prostates.
In other cases, Dutasteride is used in combination with another medication (the alpha blocker, tamsulosin), to treat moderate-to-severe cases of BPH.
It’s important to note that Dutasteride, both alone and as part of combination therapy, aren’t approved to be used in the prevention of prostate cancer.
How do you take Dutasteride?
Whether it’s used as monotherapy or part of combination therapy with tamsulosin, the recommended dosage for Dutasteride is one 0.5mg capsule per day.
The capsule should be swallowed whole (not chewed or opened), and it can be taken with or without food.
For the most efficient effects, the medication should be taken at the same time each day.
How long does Dutasteride last after you take it?
What are the common side effects of Dutasteride?
The most common side effects that occur when taking Dutasteride include:
- Impotence
- Decreased libido
- Breast disorders (i.e., breast enlargement, tenderness, etc.)
- Ejaculation disorders (i.e., inability to ejaculate, reduced output, etc.)
>As well, people using Dutasteride as part of combination therapy also reported dizziness as a common side effect.
If you begin to experience any severe side effects, be sure to talk to your Felix healthcare practitioner. They may be able to suggest an alternative medication that could work better for you.
Who shouldn't take Dutasteride?
As this medication is only meant for adults that have been assigned male at birth, it’s important to note that anyone under the age of 18, or anyone assigned female at birth, shouldn’t use Dutasteride.
In addition to these people, there are other patients who should be cautious about using Dutasteride. These include:
- People who have or have a history of liver problems
- People who have or have a history of prostate cancer
- People who have or have a history of urinary tract disease
If you believe that any of these conditions could apply to you, be sure to talk to your practitioner at Felix before you request an online Dutasteride prescription. They may be able to suggest alternative treatments that will work better for you.
Further reading
