Dutasteride for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia User Reviews (Page 2)

• Helmut...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2014

Avodart (dutasteride) "After 15 years of prostate problems and many biopsies, PSA 139 had acute urinary retention and catheterization (not getting catheter in, bleeding). I was put on Avodart with slight improvement, nocturnal frequency reduced from ten times to about 4 to 5 times, and I felt very dizzy."

• OldDe...
• February 7, 2011

Avodart (dutasteride) "I am 63 years old and have BPH which I controlled effectively for several years with Flomax and that family of medicines. However, about 8 months ago, I began to suffer severe vertigo. After several thousands of dollars of tests from a variety of specialists, I quit taking Doxazosin and that family of medicines and switched to Avodart. The vertigo went away within a few days. It took Avodart about a week to kick in, and it is not as effective at improving flow as the others, but I can sleep all night without getting up. However, as others have noted, my libido plummeted to zero and I am not on testosterone replacement. The two counteract each other, and I just need to find the right mix that I am willing to live with."

• Greg
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 29, 2023

Avodart (dutasteride) "The medication improves my urination greatly. But my libido is low, my penis is not erect and has shrunk."

• North...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 11, 2022

Avodart (dutasteride) "Have both BPH and low grade prostate cancer (Gleason 3+3). Been on Flomax and Avodart for several years now with the common side effect of ejaculate issues, but thats about it. 67 yrs old and on Active Surveillance. PSA levels still elevated even with Avodart, and my most recent PSA test was 11.2 reading. MRI scheduled just to make sure there is nothing more sinister going on. Take both pills usually in early evening post-meals."

• bruce
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 12, 2022

"Am 74 coming up to 75, but very fit (having done 10k running most days for last 13 years.) I've had an ever increasing growing enlarged prostate since my early 40's until finally urine retention + catheter occurred 2 years ago. My very large prostate was read as some 105mgs/cc(?) & I was now (eventually) persuaded into taking dutasteride & tamulosin prior to turps opp. My research led me to plan alternative surgery in either Holep or aqua-ablation. My concern despite the otherwise full success of these drugs urologically, is to keep my sexual faculties, as 'they' say these loss effects can become permanent?! So what would be my chances of recovery after taking 2 years if I chose a 'saving holep version' (80% successful) my chosen surgeon offered me? Indeed. my big question ( & I'm sure many others) is,. 'How many people who have been on dutasteride for 2 years have managed to regain their full sexual functions?' Please please answer?"

• ISSAC...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 13, 2015

"I am getting drowsiness no mood to work"

• ts590
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 30, 2012

Avodart (dutasteride) "I have been taking Avodart for about a year now. It has improved my night urinating, but I really do not like the decreased sex drive, ability to achieve a full erection, and decreased semen output."

• Don...
• June 29, 2011

Avodart (dutasteride) "I am 68 and have been using Avodart and Tamsulosin together for about a month. A serious side effect suffered is extreme difficulty obtaining an erection and/or ejaculation. A minor side effect has been lightheadedness. At my age, the serious side effect does not really bother me, but being lightheaded is a concern in my employment as a transit driver. I believe the Tamsulosin is the lightheadedness culprit, but my doctor does not want me to continue it much longer."

• tomas
• August 22, 2009

Avodart (dutasteride) "I have been taking 0.5 mg daily for a year. The product works and has a bonus for me. I have always suffered from nosebleeds on an unpredictable basis. Since taking Avodart, I rarely experience a nosebleed. Several months ago, I went to using it every other day, and within two weeks, the nosebleeds returned. With a return to the daily dosage, I have had few, if any, nosebleeds."

• fitz
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2024

"I've been on dutasteride nearly a year for BPH and improvement has been gradual; still improving. Initially, I experienced low libido with it, but this resided gradually over time."

• Gerard
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 4, 2024

Avodart (dutasteride) "BPH since my late 50s. Used Avodart right away and had the usual sexual symptoms but mild and with good flow and sleep. Had TUNA surgery (not TURP). This surgery allowed me to feel young again and be drug-free for about three years. Then I could feel the flow gradually weakening. I have been back on daily Avodart for the last 8-10 years and with good flow and sleep. Now 70, once again I can slowly feel Avodart is losing the battle. My flow is weakening once again. I dread and suspect TURP will be my next step, unfortunately. (Never could take the Flomax type of meds due to lightheadedness symptoms.)"

• RJg
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 23, 2021

Avodart (dutasteride) "Been on Dutasteride and Tamsulosin for about four years. Reduction in libido, dry ejaculation and need encouragement to get erection. Starting to get fuller around chest and losing body hair but not obvious to others at moment and i am monitoring it. Shrunk prostate I get up once/twice per night to wee. I am 75."

• 66...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 27, 2013

Avodart (dutasteride) "I have been on this for 2 years. It has shrunk my enlarged prostate so I no longer have discomfort, and I urinate a little less often at night. Most importantly, I am able to postpone prostate reduction surgery. Sexual side effects same as others have noted. Now developing some breast tenderness. I take this with an alpha blocker as well."

• 1tqd
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 26, 2012

Avodart (dutasteride) "I am 65 years old and have been on Avodart for one year. My PSA had increased at a rapid rate to 3.6. Biopsy was benign. Frequent urination was of course an issue. My PSA dropped almost by 50% in the first 6 months. My sex drive is nonexistent and if I can get a partial erection I am able to have a small ejaculation. Cialis will sometimes work. The most dramatic side effect has been that I now have an almost full head of hair. Prior to the Avodart therapy, I was pretty bald on top and thinning on the sides. My barber has been amazed, as have I."

• man
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 13, 2024

"I am 58 and started taking Dutasteride and Alfuzosin for the last 7 months. Dutasteride works excellently and reduced prostate size by 25%. PSA reduced to 2.99, previously, it was 7.2. The urination frequency reduced and flow increased. I am taking Cialis also in low doses as prescribed by the doctor. On the side effect side, no major side effects so far (fingers crossed), except for better hair growth. Sex drive is the same, and erections feel the same, except for some minute reduction in semen volume. Overall, Dutasteride has worked well until now...further monitoring and observing as it comes."

• Davemon
• August 15, 2023

Avodart (dutasteride) "Age 70. Taking Avodart for 10 months. PSA now 1.8. I have an enlarged medium lobe. Doc said it will take a year before it works if it does. I waited too long and wish I had started Avodart five years ago. I have no side effects at all except for lower semen. It did not affect sexual performance at all. I'll stick with it for two years. Alternatives like surgery are so risky. Although prostate embolization is on my radar screen."

• Udon
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 1, 2020

Avodart (dutasteride) "From everything I've read Avodart is supposed to shrink your prostate and/or lower PSA levels over a certain period of time. Been on a combo of Flomax and Avodart for almost 18 months now and my PSA level is still elevated (5-7, age 65). Also have low grade cancer 3+3 on Gleason score. Urinary issues have certainly improved however, and no serious side effects seen as yet. Will see how this plays out."

• PEIGuy
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 18, 2019

"I have found Avodart highly effective at treating symptoms of my enlarged prostate but it is a long term drug. It took me about 2 months to start seeing an improvement in my bph symptoms and I really noticed major improvement by month 5. So I’m glad I stuck to my doctor’s advice to give it time. She also went over the side effects very carefully with me noting it can be a good drug for some men and a poor drug for others. What discourages a lot of men is that while the beneficial take months the side effects hit you after a few days. A reduction in sexual interest will happen. You need to consider that ahead of time before going on it. If you currently enjoy a good sex life you should avoid this drug if possible. But if you are in a sexless marriage like me- fairly common by the bph age, then maybe the side effects are welcome. In my case my wife is in menopause and I like my decreased desire."

• Nick
• October 13, 2016

Avodart (dutasteride) "Urologist was hesitant to put me on this because of my young age. He did. First two months were rough. Decreased energy and sex drive. After this, my testosterone levels actually skyrocketed and I got muscular, lost body fat, and sex drive went into overdrive. Hair regrowth was minimal, but body hair was drastically decreased. Oh, and my prostate shrunk drastically, and my PSA is below 1 (0.9). I was put on this after Flomax didn't work to fully evacuate my bladder. My BPH was causing bladder void incompleteness, which caused a UTI. It took Avodart 2 months to stop this where many medications failed."

• dbuelke
• January 6, 2009

Avodart (dutasteride) "I started Avodart about 3 weeks ago and my nocturnal urinations have dropped from about 3x to once nightly. Stream has never been a problem and hasn't changed. I sleep more soundly and have not had any of the common side effects."

• Mitch
• July 30, 2008

Avodart (dutasteride) "I have been taking 0.5 mg of Avodart twice a day for 4 years. I have noticed no side effects, and lab results verify that nearly all testosterone conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is blocked. Since prostate cancer growth is stimulated by DHT, and not testosterone, my PSA has remained low (below 1) with no tumor regrowth (after radiation therapy)."

• Doonage
• June 5, 2008

Avodart (dutasteride) "This medication worked for me from day one! The flow immediately smoothed out. No problems for the first week of use, which is how long I have been on it."

• Black...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 29, 2021

"dutasteride has stopped my hair loss, I have been taking it for 1 year. I wish it prevents hair loss forever cause I really need my hair"

• ordin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 9, 2020

Avodart (dutasteride) "I've been on Avodart for about 3 years now. 57 years old, happily married to a woman. At first, it killed my sex drive and erections. My doctor said to just wait it out, that will change in time. She was right. My sex drive returned to near normal [the modest reduction was actually nice], and my erections returned to normal and then actually better than normal. Ejaculate is thin and watery when on just Avodart, but zero ejaculate when taking Rapaflo too. Together, the two drugs give a very satisfying dry orgasm that takes a while to achieve, so if you used to be a minute man, this is good news. Like many of us guys old enough to have BPH, my marriage is sexless [as much my 'fault' as it is hers], but masturbation is still an option. Just be patient - good things happen after being on it a few months."

• bob...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 28, 2020

"dutasteride is awesome! been using it for 2 years. prostate is tiny now. hairline is growing back, body hair is reduced, although I didn't have that much before. Sexual side effect, semen volume is definitely reduced, however no problems with erection or orgasm when I have a stimulating subject"