Dutasteride Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Dutasteride Capsule (generic name dutasteride) is a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor used to treat an enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in men. It comes as a 0.5 mg soft gelatin capsule taken once daily, either alone or together with the alpha-blocker tamsulosin for moderate to severe symptoms. It works by lowering a hormone called DHT, which helps shrink the prostate and ease urinary symptoms. It is not approved to prevent prostate cancer and must never be used by women.

What is Dutasteride Capsule

Dutasteride is an oral medicine used to treat an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) in men. It comes as a soft gelatin capsule containing 0.5 mg of dutasteride.

Dutasteride Capsule uses

• Treats symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate, used alone
• Used together with the alpha-blocker tamsulosin for moderate to severe symptomatic BPH in men with enlarged prostates
• Not approved to prevent prostate cancer
• Treats benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Helps reduce an enlarged prostate

Benefits of Dutasteride Capsule

• Reduces prostate size
• Improves urinary flow and BPH symptoms
• Reduces the risk of sudden inability to urinate (acute urinary retention)
• Reduces the need for BPH-related surgery
• Provides once-daily dosing
• Gradually reduces prostate size
• May improve urinary flow
• May reduce progression of BPH

How Dutasteride Capsule works

Prostate growth is driven by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dutasteride blocks the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, which lowers DHT levels and shrinks the enlarged prostate, easing urinary symptoms.

Dutasteride Capsule dosage

Swallow the capsule whole; do not chew or open it, because contact with the contents may irritate your mouth or throat. It can be taken with or without food, at the same time each day. Symptoms may start to improve after 3 months, but it can take up to 6 months to see the full benefit of treatment. If you miss a dose, just take the next scheduled dose — do not take an extra capsule to make up for it.

Available forms and strengths

• Soft gelatin capsules (0.5 mg)

Side effects of Dutasteride Capsule

Common

• Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
• Decreased libido (reduced sex drive)
• Ejaculation problems, including decreased semen amount
• Breast tenderness or enlargement
• Dizziness (more common when combined with tamsulosin)
• Depressed mood

Serious

• Increased risk of a serious, high-grade form of prostate cancer
• Breast cancer (relationship to long-term use is unknown)
• Heart failure (reported more often with combination therapy)
• Serious allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, or throat, hives, and sudden wheeziness or chest tightness
• Serious skin reactions
• Testicular pain and swelling

Warnings and precautions

• Dutasteride is for use by men only.
• Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should never handle the capsules, as dutasteride can be absorbed through the skin and may affect the normal development of a male baby's genitals.
• Dutasteride must not be used by women. It can pass through the skin, and even handling a leaking capsule may harm the development of a male baby if a woman is or might become pregnant.
• Dutasteride is contraindicated in women, including while breastfeeding. It is not known whether it passes into breast milk.
• Dutasteride may be linked to an increased risk of a more serious, high-grade form of prostate cancer, although a direct cause has not been proven.
• Heart failure was reported more often in people taking dutasteride together with the alpha-blocker tamsulosin than in those taking dutasteride alone, though it is not proven that the combination causes heart failure.
• Do not donate blood while taking dutasteride and for at least 6 months after stopping, to avoid passing the drug to a pregnant woman through a blood transfusion.
• Dutasteride lowers PSA test results, which can give a false sense of security about prostate cancer risk, so tell your doctor you are taking it before any PSA test.
• No dose change is expected to be needed for people with kidney problems, although this has not been specifically studied.
• People with liver disease should use dutasteride with caution and tell their doctor about any liver problems, since the drug is broken down extensively by the liver and stays in the body a long time.
• No major direct interaction with alcohol is established, though excessive alcohol may worsen urinary symptoms in some people.
• Dutasteride generally does not directly impair driving.

Storage

• Store between 15°C and 30°C
• Protect from light
• Keep out of the reach and sight of children
• Return any cracked or leaking capsules to your pharmacist for replacement
• Return any unused capsules to a pharmacist

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as sudden wheezing or chest tightness, swelling of the eyelids, face, or lips, or hives (lumpy skin rash) anywhere on the body.
• Tell your doctor if breast swelling or tenderness becomes bothersome, or if you notice breast lumps or nipple discharge.
• If you accidentally come into contact with a leaking capsule, wash the area right away with soap and water.
• In case of a suspected overdose, get emergency medical help immediately, even if you have no symptoms.

Alternatives

• Finasteride
• Tamsulosin
• Alfuzosin