Brand Name

Avodart {GlaxoSmithKline}

Generic Name

dutasteride, pronounced doo TAS ter ide

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Drug Guide

The information contained in the following drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

What is Avodart?

Avodart treats benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, in men with an enlarged prostate. Avodart works by improving urinary flow. This medication may also reduce your need for prostate surgery at a later date.

Avodart may also be given for purposes not described in this medication guide.

Key Facts About Avodart

Avodart prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone(DHT) in your body. DHT is involved in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

You may be prescribed Avodart alongside another medication called tamsulosin, or Flomax. Take care to be sure to read the medication guide and patient instructions provided with each of these medications.

Avodart is for men only. Women who are exposed to Avodart while they are pregnant may be at risk of having a child with birth defects. Therefore, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should be especially careful not to handle Avodart.

If women or children come in contact with Avodart tablets that are broken or crushed be sure to wash the area with soap and water immediately.

Do not donate blood for at least 6 months after you have finished your treatment with Avodart. Because Avodart can be carried in the blood,this medication could cause birth defects if a pregnant woman receives a transfusion with blood that contains Avodart.

Before You Take Avodart

If you have an allergy to dutasteride, or to a similar medication called finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) you should not take Avodart.

Tell your doctor if you have problems urinating before starting treatment with Avodart.

Using Avodart may increase your risk of developing prostate cancer. You may need to have certain tests performed to make sure that you do not have any medical conditions that would prevent you from safely using Avodart. Your doctor will determine if these tests are necessary.

Avodart Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• antibiotics like clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole) and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants like nefazodone
• antifungal medications like itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), miconazole (Oravig) and voriconazole (Vfend)
• conivaptan (Vaprisol)
• imatinib (Gleevec)
• isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);
• heart or blood pressure medications such as nicardipine (Cardene) or quinidine (Quin-G)
• HIV/AIDS medications like atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir (Invirase) and ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra)

Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Avodart. You should tell your doctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Taking Avodart

Take Avodart exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take Avodart in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Do not break, chew or crush Avodart. If women or children come in contact with Avodart tablets that are broken or crushed be sure to wash the area with soap and water immediately.

Avodart should be taken with a full glass of water.

Avodart may be taken with or without food.

You should take Avodart at the same time every day.

Avodart needs to be stored at room temperature, and away from light, moisture and heat. Be sure to keep the bottle tightly closed between uses.

If you miss a dose of Avodart you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose do not take the missed dose in addition to your regular dose.

Avodart Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Avodart and seek emergency medical help immediately:

• difficulty breathing
• hives
• swelling of your lips, tongue, face or throat

Less serious side effects of Avodart may include:

• abnormal ejaculation
• breast tenderness
• decreased libido
• impotence
• semen amount decreased during intercourse

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Avodart. You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

Avodart Description and Dosing

Avodart is available as a soft gelatin capsule. The 0.5-mg capsule is opaque, dull yellow and imprinted with “GX CE2” in red ink on one side.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with Avodart you should seek emergency help immediately.

Ingredients in Avodart

The main ingredient in Avodart is dutasteride. Inactive ingredients include excipients in the capsule shell which are ferric oxide (yellow), gelatin (from certified BSE-free bovine sources), glycerin, and titanium dioxide. The soft gelatin capsules are printed with edible red ink.

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The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.