Avodart: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Use

What is Avodart for?

Avodart is a capsule form of oral medicine that contains dutasteride as its main active ingredient.

Avodart's main function is to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Therefore, the drug Avodart can help treat symptoms due to an enlarged prostate such as, passing urine, the amount of urine that comes out is small, or the feeling of wanting to urinate constantly, even at night.

In some cases, surgery may not be needed if Avodart is successful in shrinking an enlarged prostate.

Meanwhile, for the treatment of prostate cancer, this drug has not been proven to be effective in overcoming the disease. In fact, the use of this drug may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, always consult your condition with your doctor and ask about the benefits and risks of using this drug before deciding to use it.

This drug is included in the type of prescription drug, meaning you cannot buy it freely in pharmacies and must get it by prescription.

Also keep in mind that this medicine should only be taken by men and is not recommended for women and children.

How do I use Avodart?

Avodart can be used with the following steps:

• If your doctor has advised you to use this drug, keep using it and do not stop even if you feel your condition is getting better.
• To feel the maximum benefits of using the drug, don't forget to take it regularly.
• You can take this medicine either on an empty stomach or already filled with food.
• Swallow the drug whole. Don't chew it, split it in half, or crush it first.
• Do not take this medication if it has changed color or the contents have been splattering from the capsule.

How to save avodart?

As with medicine in general, avodart should be stored at room temperature. Keep this drug away from damp places and direct sunlight as this can damage the drug.

Do not store this medication in the bathroom, let alone store and freeze it in the freezer. Keep this medication out of reach of children and pets.

If the expiration period has expired or you are no longer using this medicine, discard this medicine immediately. If you do not know how to dispose of the correct medicine, check with your pharmacist or local waste disposal agency for the correct and safe way to dispose of the medicine. Do not flush this medication in the toilet or throw it away.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of avodart for adult men?

0.5 milligram (mg) taken by mouth once daily.

In what dosage is Avodart available?

Avodart is available in a dosage of 0.5 milligram (mg).

Side effects

What side effects may arise from using Avodart?

There are several side effects that may occur and you should know when using Avodart.

The following side effects are serious but rare side effects, namely:

• Unusual ejaculation
• The desire to have sex is drastically reduced
• Reduced ability during sexual intercourse
• Impotent
• Cannot get an erection
• Loss of ability, desire related to sexual activity
• Pain, soreness, swelling, or a discharge from the breast

Meanwhile, there are also side effects that are rare but not too serious, although you should consult your doctor about these conditions, such as:

• Chest pain
• Widened neck veins
• Excess fatigue
• Abnormal breathing
• Abnormal heartbeat
• Gasping for breath
• Swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or calves
• Increase in weight
• Wheezing or breath sounds

The side effects that are quite common are:

• Peeling skin
• Cough
• It's hard to swallow
• Dizzy
• Heartbeat feels fast
• Itchy and reddish skin
• Swelling of the face, folds of the eyes, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, calves, or sexual organs
• Unusual fatigue

Keep in mind that the doctor prescribes this because the doctor has examined your body and health condition and assesses that the benefits you get from using this medicine will outweigh the risk of side effects.

Not everyone experiences the side effects mentioned above. Some even don't feel the side effects at all. There may be some side effects not listed above.

If you are concerned about certain side effects you will experience after using this medicine, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings & Precautions

What should be known before using Avodart?

Things you should know and do before using Avodart are as follows.

• If you are taking this medicine, make sure that you are not allergic to it or the active ingredient in it, namely dutasteride.
• This medicine should only be used for men. Women and children are not allowed to use it.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver problems.
• Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to other medicines, foods, or preservatives and dyes.
• Tell your doctor about any medications you are currently taking, including prescription, non-prescription, herbal and vitamin drugs.
• If you are going to have an operation, tell the doctor who will perform the operation on you that you are taking Avodart.
• Use of this drug can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Before being advised to use this drug, make sure your doctor has checked whether your condition is prone to prostate cancer or not, especially if you are using this drug.
• If you are using this medicine, do not donate blood. You can only do it after 6 months of stopping using this drug. This is done to prevent your blood from being given to children or women.
• The benefits of using this drug are felt after two to three months of use. If your condition does not improve after that or it gets worse, contact your doctor.

Is Avodart safe for use by pregnant and lactating women?

Given its use to treat prostate symptoms, this drug is only for men. Women and children should not consume it.

What's more, if a pregnant woman takes this drug, Avodart can cause birth defects. In fact, this drug can even absorb into the skin of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Therefore, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not touch this drug. If you accidentally touch this medication, wash your hands immediately with soap and water until they are clean.

With the possibilities mentioned above, this drug is included in pregnancy risk category X according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Interaction

What other medicines may interact with Avodart?

Interactions that occur between Avodart and other drugs may change the performance of the drug or even increase the risk of side effects from using this drug. However, not all drug interactions have the same effect.

Although certain drugs should not be used at the same time, in certain cases, two different drugs can be used together, even if interactions are possible.

In this case, your doctor may change the dose, or take other precautions that may be needed. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription drugs.

Not all drug interactions are listed in this article. Therefore, save all types of medicines you use and ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it is safe to use Avodart with these drugs. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

Avodart can interact with 80 types of drugs. The following are some of the types of drugs that can interact with Avodart. Interactions that may occur between Avodart and the drugs below should be avoided, but in certain cases it may be the best treatment. These drugs include:

• amiodarone
• amprenavir
• apalutamide
• bexarotene
• bicalutamide
• boceprevir
• cimetidine
• ciproflaoxacin
• crizotinib
• danaziol
• darunavir
• delavirdine
• efavirenz
• enzalutamide
• etravirine
• fluconazole
• fluvoxamine
• fosamprenavir

Meanwhile, there are also drugs that, if interacting with Avodart, only have a risk that is not too significant or serious, namely:

• armodafinil
• modafinil

What foods and alcohol can interact with avodart?

Certain medications should not be consumed at mealtimes or when eating certain types of food because interactions may occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco-derived products with certain drugs can also cause interactions.

Talk to your doctor to find out more clearly about using this drug with food, alcohol, or products derived from tobacco.

What are the health conditions that can interact with Avodart?

The use of this drug can also interact with various health problems in your body. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially liver diseases or disorders.

This is because avodart will be processed in the liver so if you have liver disease, taking this drug may increase your liver exposure to the active ingredient in this drug.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118/119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department. Symptoms of an overdose that may occur after using an excessive amount of this drug are loss of self-awareness or fainting, or difficulty breathing.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Avodart?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it turns out that when you are about to take the missed dose, it is time to tell you to take the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your usual dosing schedule.

Do not double your dose because a double dose will not guarantee that you will experience the benefits of avodart sooner than not doubling it. Also, you do not know whether doubling the dose will not increase the risk of side effects from taking the drug or not.

Always consult your doctor about the dosage of drug use, because the doctor who checks your condition will know more about using the dose that is more appropriate and in accordance with your health condition.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.