Avodart
Avodart is a medicine for men with an enlarged prostate, which is not cancer. It works by reducing a hormone that causes prostate growth.
Form
kapseli, pehmeä
Strength
0.5 mg
Active Ingredient
Dutasteride
Manufacturer
GlaxoSmithKline Oy
How to Use
Dosage
Take one 0.5 mg capsule once a day.
Method
Swallow the capsule whole with water. Do not chew or open it, as the contents can irritate your mouth or throat.
Important
The maximum daily dose is one 0.5 mg capsule.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Inability to get or keep an erection (impotence). This may continue after you stop taking Avodart.
- •Decreased sexual desire (libido). This may continue after you stop taking Avodart.
- •Problems with ejaculation, like less semen released during sex. This may continue after you stop taking Avodart.
- •Breast enlargement or tenderness (gynecomastia).
- •Dizziness when taken with tamsulosin (another medicine).
RARE
- •Allergic reactions such as itchy rash, hives (red raised bumps), or swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, arms, or legs.
- •Heart failure (your heart pumps blood less effectively, causing symptoms like shortness of breath, extreme tiredness, and swelling in your ankles and feet).
- •Hair loss (usually from the body) or hair growth.
- •Depression.
- •Pain and swelling in your testicles.
Important Warnings
- Do not take Avodart if you are allergic to dutasteride, other similar medicines (5-alpha reductase inhibitors), soy, peanuts, or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you have liver problems, as you may need extra check-ups while taking Avodart.
- Pregnant women, children, and teenagers must not touch leaking Avodart capsules, because the medicine can get into the skin. If you touch it, wash your skin right away with soap and water.
- Use a condom during sex. Avodart's medicine has been found in semen. If your partner is pregnant or might become pregnant, you must prevent her from touching your semen, as it could affect the normal development of a male baby.
- Avodart affects a blood test called PSA (used for prostate cancer). Tell your doctor you are taking Avodart if you need a PSA test, and your doctor should check your PSA levels regularly.
Show 2 more warnings
- Avodart can cause your breasts to become larger or tender. If this is a problem, or if you find lumps or fluid from your nipple, tell your doctor. These could be signs of serious conditions like breast cancer.
- Some patients taking similar medicines have reported feeling sad, depressed, and rarely, having thoughts of self-harm. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category A
Suitable for older adults. (updated 18.8.2025)