Dutasteride

Dutasteride is a prescription drug used for treating an enlarged prostate. The drug works by lowering the body's levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for enlarging the prostate. In most men, dutasteride can help shrink the enlarged prostate, helping to relieve their enlarged prostate symptoms. It may take as long as 3 to 12 months of taking dutasteride before results can be seen. Potential side effects of dutasteride can include erectile dysfunction, a decreased sex drive, and breast enlargement.

 

What Is Dutasteride?

Dutasteride (Avodart®) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed to treat an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate is also known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. Dutasteride has been approved to be used by itself or together with tamsulosin (Flomax®), another BPH medicine.
 
(Click What Is Dutasteride Used For? for more information on what dutasteride is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes It?

Dutasteride is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
 

How Does Dutasteride Work?

Dutasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), thereby decreasing the amount of DHT in the body. Since DHT is responsible for enlarging the prostate, using dutasteride to decrease DHT levels can treat an enlarged prostate. In most men, dutasteride can help shrink the enlarged prostate, helping to relieve their enlarged prostate symptoms.
 

Dutasteride Effects

There have been several studies looking at how well dutasteride treats an enlarged prostate. These studies showed the following effects related to dutasteride and men with BPH.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;