Dutasteride

The label describes dutasteride for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. It aims to improve symptoms, reduce the risk of acute urinary retention and reduce the need for BPH-related surgery.

It can also be used with the alpha-blocker tamsulosin. The label says it is not approved to prevent prostate cancer.

• Improves symptoms of an enlarged prostate
• Lowers risk of acute urinary retention
• Lowers need for BPH surgery
• Can be combined with tamsulosin

Dutasteride stops the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by blocking both types of the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme.

DHT is the hormone mainly responsible for prostate growth, so lowering it helps the prostate shrink.

This page covers the US label for dutasteride capsules taken by mouth, with the dosing the label gives for adults.

This is label-level information, not personal advice. Indian pack labels may differ, and your prescriber's instruction always comes first.

For adults, the label describes one capsule once daily, alone or together with tamsulosin once daily.

Capsules should be swallowed whole, not chewed or opened, because the contents can irritate the mouth and throat. They may be taken with or without food.

• One capsule once daily
• Swallow whole; do not chew or open
• With or without food
• May be combined with tamsulosin

The label says dutasteride must not be used in pregnancy because it may harm a male fetus. Women who are or may be pregnant should not handle the capsules. Blood donation should wait 6 months after the last dose.

It lowers PSA by about half, so any confirmed rise should be evaluated. It may increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer.

• Not for use in pregnancy
• Pregnant women should not handle the capsules
• Do not donate blood until 6 months after the last dose
• Lowers PSA, which affects prostate cancer testing
• May increase risk of high-grade prostate cancer
• Not for use if allergic to 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors

• Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ritonavir
• Verapamil and diltiazem
• Tamsulosin and terazosin (no effect on levels)
• The label says caution is needed with potent, long-term CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ritonavir, because their effect on dutasteride has not been studied.
• Verapamil and diltiazem increase dutasteride exposure, but the label says no dose change is recommended.
• Tamsulosin and terazosin do not affect its levels.

No match in this label text. Ask your pharmacist about any medicine you take.

The label gives a storage range of 20 to 25 degrees C.

Follow the storage line on your own pack, and keep medicines out of the reach of children.

We did not find dutasteride in the Drugs Rules 1945 Schedule H, H1, X or G rows we checked, so we cannot state its Indian prescription status from our lists. Ask your pharmacist or doctor.

We did not find dutasteride on the National List of Essential Medicines 2022 in the list we checked.

The Jan Aushadhi (PMBJP) list we checked has 1 product row that mention dutasteride. We did not capture prices for them.

Jan Aushadhi lists dutasteride products including Dutasteride Capsule IP 0.5 mg 0.5 mg. We have not shown a price for them. Check the pack and the seller for the actual price.