Dutasteride (INN, USAN, BAN, JAN) (brand name Avodart), manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is a triple 5?-reductase inhibitor that inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. It increases the risk of erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual desire.Medical uses[edit]
Avodart (dutasteride) 500 µg soft capsules
Dutasteride is useful for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); colloquially known as an “enlarged prostate”.
In those who are being regularly screened, 5?-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride and dutasteride reduce the overall risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer; however, there is insufficient data to determine if they have an effect on the risk of death and may increase the chance of more serious cases.
Adverse effects
Sexual effects
This class of medications increases rates of erectile dysfunction (with between 5% and 9% developing problems after starting their use). This is linked to lower quality of life and can cause stress in relationships. There is also an association with lowered sexual desire. It has been reported that these adverse sexual side effects may persist even after discontinuation of the drug.
Prostate cancer
The FDA has added a warning to dutasteride about an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer. While the potential for positive, negative or neutral changes to the potential risk of developing prostate cancer with dutasteride has not been established, evidence has suggested it may temporarily reduce the growth and prevalence of benign prostate tumors, but could also mask the early detection of prostate cancer. The primary area for concern is for patients who may develop prostate cancer whilst taking dutasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia, which in turn could delay diagnosis and early treatment of the prostate cancer, thereby potentially increasing the risk of these patients developing high-grade prostate cancer.
Contraindications
Children and women who are or may become pregnant, and people with known significant hypersensitivity (e.g., serious skin reactions, angioedema) to dutasteride or finasteride should not take dutasteride. Exposure to dutasteride and other 5?-reductase inhibitors during pregnancy can cause birth defects. Since these medications are readily absorbed through the skin, women who are or may become pregnant should not handle them and if they come into contact with leaking capsules, the contact area should be washed immediately in soapy water. People taking dutasteride should not donate blood and, due to its long half-life, should also not donate blood for at least 6 months after the cessation of treatment.
Mechanism of action
Dutasteride belongs to a class of drugs called 5?-reductase inhibitors, which block the action of the 5?-reductase enzymes that convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Dutasteride versus finasteride
Finasteride is also approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. The medications belong to the same class of drugs.
Dutasteride inhibits all three isoforms of 5?-reductase, types I, II, and III, whereas finasteride only inhibits types II and III, and has a much shorter half-life.