What Is Avodart?

The dutasteride in Avodart is similar to another type of drug with the same effect such as Proscar. On some cases, patients taking Avodart are also required to take another drug with it. However, the medicine alone is often enough to treat prostate problems. Avodart is also known to improve the urine flow, which makes prostate surgery rather unnecessary.

How Does Avodart Work?

Avodart works mainly to shrink the size of an enlarged prostate. This is done by inhibiting the production of dihydrotestosterone.

What happens is that if the prostate is enlarged, production of dihydrotestosterone is also unhampered, which pretty much feeds the harmful cycle. When this is the case, the way to stop the cycle is often to shrink the enlarged prostate first. While this is possible through surgery, this process is very slow. Avodart speeds up the process to the point where some cases that needed surgery spared the patient from going under the knife because the prostate’s size has been sufficiently reduced.

How Does One Take Avodart?

• Avodart is to be taken with a glass of water or any fluid.
• Moreover, it can also be taken even with an empty stomach.
• Follow the prescriptions of the doctor especially on the matter of restrictions such as what type of foods cannot be taken when taking the medicine.
• Likewise, never attempt to open crush or chew Avodart as it is likely to affect the mouth especially the tongue and the throat.
• To make sure that Avodart is truly helping your condition, it is needed to have your prostate checked regularly.

What Are the Side Effects of Avodart?

Allergic reaction is one of the most common side effects of taking Avodart. This is severe in cases where a person commonly experiences side effects with other drugs. On the other hand, other less serious side effects that may be experienced with the medication are the following:

• Impotence. This may refer either to difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection. Regardless of the nature, impotence is one of the most common side effects of taking Avodart.
• There is a sharp reduction on the amount of semen released during sex. However, it is important to be checked first with other conditions that may cause the reduction of semen produced.
• A noticeable decrease in one's libido or sex drive.

One of the most serious side effects of taking Avodart is it may trigger possible breast cancer in men. Some of the signs of this condition are discharge from the nipples and tenderness of the breasts.

Although Avodart is not to be taken by women, it is very important to make sure a pregnant woman does not get in contact with it. This is because Avodart has substances that are known to penetrate the pores in the skin and cause internal damage to one's health.

What Should I Discuss with My Doctor Before Taking Avodart?

• If you are about to take Avodart, make sure that you will not be donating blood within the next six months. This is because Avodart may remain in the bloodstream for up to six months. When a person receives your blood, side effects may result.
• It is also important to consult with your doctor your possible allergies when it comes to food and also the severity of your condition such as the degree of pain when urinating which is important to determine the dosage of Avodart the doctor will prescribe.
• If you are taking other maintenance drugs, be sure to tell your doctor about this too.

What Should I Avoid While Taking Avodart?

Avoid taking more than one dosage in a prescribed period, which is often a 24-hour span. Also, avoid taking the foods prohibited by the doctor while taking Avodart.

Storage

Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Keep in a tightly sealed container.