What is Dutasteride? Benefits and side effects of Dutasteride

Prostate diseases, as one of the common problems related to men’s health, have a direct and indirect effect on their quality of life. The prostate is a small gland located in the male reproductive system and plays an important role in the production of sperm. As men age, many men face problems related to the prostate, one of the most important of which is non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, or BPH (prostatic hyperplasia). In the following, by examining the mechanism of action of Dutasteride, we will discuss its uses, methods of use, precautions and contraindications.

Dutasteride dosage forms

1. 0.5 mg capsule

Uses of dutasteride capsules

This drug is used in men to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia-BPH), which works by reducing the size of the enlarged prostate. This process helps relieve BPH symptoms such as difficulty starting to urinate, weak flow, and the need to urinate frequently or urgently (including in the middle of the night). It also reduces the need for surgery to treat BPH in some cases. Dutasteride is not approved for the prevention of prostate cancer. Because it may slightly increase the risk of developing a very serious type of prostate cancer. This medicine should not be used by women or children, talk to your doctor about its benefits and risks.

Pharmacological effects and mechanism of action of Dutasteride drug

Dutasteride, a selective inhibitor of type 1 and type 2 5-alpha reductase isoforms, suppresses the serum level of dihydrotestosterone by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. The maximum plasma time is 2-3 hours and the metabolites include mainly 4′-hydroxydutasteride, 6-hydroxydutasteride (as the main active ingredient), 1,2′-dihydrodutasteride. This drug is finally eliminated through feces (40%) and urine (<1%).

Dosage of Dutasteride

Before using dutasteride, check the drug information on the drug package, including the amount and time of use. Take this medication orally with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once a day. Swallow the medicine completely with a glass of water and avoid chewing or crushing it. Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin, be careful not to harm the unborn fetus. Use this medicine regularly to get the most benefit from it.

Precautions

Before using dutasteride, if you are allergic to it or other ingredients (such as finasteride), avoid using it. This medicine may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. If you have medical records such as urinary incontinence, constipation or severe diarrhea, kidney disorders, specific prostate disease, heart or liver problems, etc., consult your doctor about the side effects and risks of the drug. Also, this drug should not be used in pregnant women, because it will cause major risks to the fetus.

1. Before starting treatment, rule out other urological diseases.
2. In patients with obstructive uropathy, liver disease and other special diseases, it should be used with approval and caution. Also, the patient should not donate blood until 6 months after the last dose of dutasteride.
3. Dutasteride reduces serum PSA by 40-50%. Establish a new baseline PSA after 3-6 months of treatment.
4. Capsules should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women. The drug can be absorbed through the skin, leading to unwanted exposure to the fetus and potential risk to the male fetus. If a pregnant woman comes into contact with leaking dutasteride capsules, the contact area should be washed immediately with soap and water. It should be noted that, based on animal studies, the drug can be absorbed through the skin.
5. Recent data from 2 large randomized controlled trials have reported an increased risk of a more serious type of prostate cancer (high-grade prostate cancer) in participants (in one study) taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs).
6. The revised prescribing information recommends that before starting treatment with 5-ARIs, an appropriate evaluation to rule out other urologic diseases, including prostate cancer, that may mimic benign prostatic hyperplasia should be performed.

Dutasteride contraindications

1. Hypersensitivity
2. pregnant women
3. children

Dutasteride capsule side effects

Some of the side effects of Dutasteride are sexual problems (such as decreased sexual interest and ability, decreased amount of semen and sperm), testicular pain and swelling, increased breast size, or breast tenderness. Sexual problems have continued in some men even after stopping treatment. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away. Most people who use this drug do not experience serious side effects. However, if certain side effects or allergies occur, such as skin rash, itching and swelling (especially in the face, tongue and throat), severe dizziness, breathing problems, etc., see a doctor.

1. impotence
2. Decreased libido
3. Ejaculation disorder
4. Breast disorders
5. dizziness
6. Heart failure
7. Prostate cancer (high grade)
8. Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity reactions, including rash, pruritus, urticaria, local edema, serious skin reactions, and angioedema.
9. Neoplasms: male breast cancer
10. Psychiatric disorders: depressed mood
11. Genital and breast disorders: testicular pain and swelling

Dutasteride drug interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk of serious side effects. Patients, before visiting the doctor, prepare a list of chemical and herbal medicines you use and show them to him. While using dutasteride, do not use any medicine without consulting your doctor. Also, do not increase, decrease or stop the dose prescribed by the doctor.

Dutasteride use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Dutasteride is contraindicated during pregnancy. The drug is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor that prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone necessary for normal development of the male reproductive organs. Abnormalities in the genital organs of male fetuses are an expected physiological consequence of the inhibition of this transformation. These results are similar to those observed in male infants with genetic deficiency of 5-alpha-reductase. In animal reproduction studies, the drug inhibited normal development of external genitalia in male offspring in the absence of maternal toxicity when given to rats or rabbits during organogenesis at less than the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 0.5 mg/day.

At 15 times the MRHD, prolonged pregnancy, decreased genital weight, and delayed puberty in male offspring were observed in mice. Although dutasteride is secreted in human semen, the concentration of the drug in the human female partner is approximately 100 times lower than the concentrations that cause abnormalities in the male reproductive tract in animal studies. Experience has proven that the effect of drugs on animals is slightly different from humans, and animal studies should not be limited. Therefore, according to the instructions, this drug should not be used during pregnancy.

Reproductive potential in Dutasteride

The effects of 0.5 mg/day on semen characteristics were investigated in normal volunteers at week 52, the mean percent reduction from baseline in total sperm count, semen volume, and sperm motility were 23, 26%, and 18%, respectively. While the mean values ​​for all seminal fluid parameters remained within the normal range at all time points and did not meet the predefined criteria for a clinically significant change (30%), also 2 subjects in the dutasteride group at 52 years had a reduction of more than 90% of them had sperm count.

Dutasteride storage conditions

Dutasteride should be stored at room temperature and away from light. It is also important to keep all medications out of the reach of children, as many forms of medication (such as weekly tablets and eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and can be easily opened by young children. . Unnecessary medications should be disposed of in specific ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot ingest them.

The last word about dutasteride

Dutasteride drug, as we said in this article from Positive Green Online Pharmacy magazine, is proposed as an effective option in managing non-cancerous prostate disease (BPH) and reducing related symptoms. This drug belongs to the family of alpha-alpha blockers, which by affecting alpha receptors in the prostate and other related tissues, helps to improve urine flow and reduce the abnormal volume of the prostate. However, it should be noted as an important point that any medication may have side effects and it is suggested that you consult your doctor before starting any treatment. This article titled Dutasteride drug is provided for you from the online positive green pharmacy magazine.

Site source: Medscape