Avodart (Dutasteride) 0.5mg Capsules

Avodart does not cause cancer. However, taking Avodart or other similar hair loss treatments may increase your risk of prostate cancer. In a clinical study, men taking Avodart developed a serious form of prostate cancer more often than men who did not take Avodart (though this is a very small amount).

If you take Avodart, you should have a regular blood test for PSA (prostate-specific antigen), which detects prostate cancer. You should speak to your doctor about this, and if you are having a PSA test, you should tell your doctor that you are taking Avodart. Your doctor could also help you to understand the prevention of prostate cancer better. Similarly, it is important to keep an eye on any side effects, such as breast tenderness and enlargement, which may be a sign of something more serious, such as breast cancer.

The vast majority of people who use Avodart can stop use with no withdrawal symptoms at all. It's important to note that the withdrawal symptoms of Avodart can vary from person to person and it is always recommended to talk to your healthcare professional before stopping (or starting) any prescribed medication. View the patient information leaflet for further details.

If you stop taking Avodart capsules, your DHT levels will return to their previous higher levels in less than a month. Over time you will then lose the hair you have regrown within 9-12 months after discontinuation.

No, Avodart belongs to the class of 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors.

To get the best results take one capsule daily. The capsule should be swallowed whole with or without food. Ensure you do not chew or take a broken capsule as the contents can give you a sore mouth or throat.

Only take one capsule a day. Avodart is not any more effective if you exceed the recommended dose.

It is best to start treatment as soon as possible after you have noticed hair loss and results are seen sooner if treatment is started within a year of hair loss.

Propecia and Avodart block the production of DHT. In a like-for-like study comparing Propecia 1mg tablets and Avodart 0.5mg Capsules, over 24 weeks, the results showed Avodart to have more hair; 94.6 hairs, compared to Propecia, which had 76.5 hairs.

It is thought to be safe to combine Avodart with the topical medicine Regaine. Regaine contains minoxidil, which has a different mechanism of action than dutasteride (Avodart). Minoxidil increases blood flow to hair follicles. This helps more oxygen and nutrients to reach the area and increases the likelihood of hair growth. The combination of the two medicines may lead to more hair growth. Regaine is best started within five years of hair loss occurring, this makes it most likely to be effective.

Avodart and Propecia should never be used together.

Avodart is not affected by alcohol.

Avodart normally causes the DHT levels to drop quickly but the hair follicles can then take months to recover and start growing thicker hair again. For this reason it is important to ensure you take Avodart every day and continue treatment for at least 6 months before assessing its true effect. It is a good idea to take photos of the areas affected by hair loss before you start treatment to allow you to compare them after 6 months and judge the effect.

It is important to start taking Avodart as soon as possible for hair loss. The more hair you have already lost, the harder it is to restart the growth cycle.

During the initial stages of treatment you may find that you begin to shed some hair. This is a common side effect as damaged follicles shed thin or fine hair to enable thicker hair to grow in its place.

Avodart 0.5mg capsules, like all medicines, carry some risks of side effects. These are usually low and typically affect around 1 in 100 men. They can include:

Difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection.

Decreased sexual desire.

Decreased production of seminal fluid (this does not effect sexual function).

There are some drug interactions that can increase the levels and effects of Avodart:

• Verapamil and diltiazem (used for high blood pressure)
• Itraconazole and ketoconazole (anti-fungal medication preparations)
• Alpha blockers (for enlarged prostate or high blood pressure)

If your medication changes or you would like to take some over-the-counter remedies please check with us or a health professional first.

Avodart does not cause drowsiness, nor does it affect your ability to drive.

No, Avodart is only for male use.

For the safety of women who may be pregnant or of child-bearing age, it's crucial to avoid any contact with Avodart capsules. Your care and caution can make a significant difference. Absorption of dutasteride, the active ingredient, can go on to have effects on an unborn baby's sexual organs. If a woman of childbearing age comes into contact with Avodart capsules, especially if the capsules are broken, medical advice should be sought immediately.

Avodart can sometimes be excreted in the ejaculate of men taking the medication. To help avoid the medicine coming into contact with women, a condom should be used whilst taking this medicine.

If you're considering the generous act of donating blood, please note that you'll need to stop taking Avodart for at least 6 months beforehand to ensure the safety of the recipient. This is to ensure any blood given to pregnant women does not contain traces of the medication and does not face dutasteride exposure for the reasons explained above.

You should not be trying to conceive whilst taking this medication.

Our advice is to refrain from unprotected sex for a 6 month period upon stopping your treatment, as it can take this long for the medicine to fully leave your body.

There should be no long term effects of the drug on fertility once it has left your system.

Avodart will not cause hair to grow in any other places. As only the hair on the head is lost due to the effects of DHT, Avodart only affects the growth of hair on the head.