Dutasteride for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia User Reviews
Brand names: Avodart
Dutasteride has an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from a total of 60 reviews for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. 43% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 23% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Dutasteride
- Anonymous
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- March 11, 2022
"I am 80+ years. I was first put on Avodart and tamsulosin in Jan 2021 and was switched to Duodart In April 2021 out of convenience. I was also diagnosed with lumbar spondylosis but was largely asymptomatic. I started to experience low back pain in June 2021 and sought relief via a physiotherapist and a chiropractor. The hip pain intensified despite costly treatments. My attention was then drawn to my medication and side effects. As a result, I have found similar instances of pain experienced by others. I have stopped taking the drug!"
- Greg...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- January 31, 2022
"I have taken Dutasteride for 3 years I am 75 .I have had all the sexual side effects. My PSA did go down. I now have swollen testicles, inflamed sinuses, terrible back pain, terrible leg pain and joint pain. Do not take this pill. I should have had surgery 3 years ago and it would be over. DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL."
- Chris
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- December 15, 2021
"I have been on Dutasteride .5mg and Tamsulosin .4mg for about 6 months now. Has not helped with flow at all and seems to be worse now. These 2 drugs have chemically castrated me!! I will give natural path supplements a try as I am sure the side effects will be less dramatic. The castration side effect from these drugs is something I just can't tolerate!"
- Ahmed
- July 14, 2021
"I suffer from androgenic alopecia when I started to take dutasride for 10 months. During this period I was shedding. IN only for 10 months my hair become thinner and not fine as it was. Why dutastride made my hair so bad?"
Are you taking this medicine?
- GeneM...
- November 21, 2020
"I have been taking Duodart for about 4 years. I woke up one morning not being able to walk due to severe spine and specifically hip pain. I was hospitalized thinking I had bone cancer or bone TB, then the X-rays showed no damage to the spine or back. I had many of the side effects but held out. I have a constant cough and lost a lot of weight, which I’m battling to regain. (I was always very fit and am only 57.) I developed a heart problem, which was never an issue or hereditary. My quality of life has changed-I don’t have quality of life! After thousands of scans and tests and depleting my insurance and savings, docs can’t find a problem. I was off work for 3 months and lost much-needed income. The only meds I was taking were Duodart (nothing else), so I decided to stop taking it to see if it could be the problem. Off for 4 weeks now and slowly starting to feel better. My wife expresses her sadness that what was supposed to improve my life only destroyed my life! DO NOT TAKE IT!"
- Rick
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- July 25, 2020
"Wouldn’t recommend dutasteride as it effects sex response and this effect remains with me after stopping the drug. Pity my prescriber didn’t mention this."
- John
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- June 14, 2019
"This dutasteride rubbish completely and permanently destroyed my sex life!!?!"
- Anonymous
- October 11, 2009
Avodart (dutasteride) "After two months, it had completely killed my libido and my ability to obtain an erection even with Viagra on board!"
- John
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- September 30, 2021
"Was put on Dutesteride + Tamsulosin by my urologist when aged 62. For the first 3 years I thought it a wonder drug. Then the ED symptoms started creeping in. With my doctors approval I swapped the Tamsulosin for 2.5mg Tadalafil. Things improved but steadily declined over the next 2 years. Loss of libido and ED even with a boost of Tadalafil on fun nights. Again with my doctor's approval I eliminated the culprit Dutesteride and went on 5.0mg Tadalafil. Several months in and I am happy. Libido and erections are in positive territory and improving. My prostate is certain to grow back in size but I will deal with it, if and when it is becomes significant."
- SOS
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- August 27, 2021
Avodart (dutasteride) "It was a dreadful medication. I had previous bad reactions to both Hytrin and Flomax, and this was the last resort, or I would have dropped it . Both my penis and nipples went completely numb, and I had a 'brain-fog' that was terrible. I finally had a Holup laser reduction of my (admittedly huge, but non-cancerous) prostate. On the day of surgery I stopped Avodart, and was really pleased to be rid of this medication. It kept the urine flowing just enough, but the side effects were awful."
- Tom
- May 5, 2020
"Have been on this medication dutasteride for a little under a year and my PSA went from 15 down to 6. My problem is that the new generic brand I was just given is giving me headaches and shortness of breath. I was told it's not the drug itself but what is used to compound the medication. I started taking the medication ever second day the but the end of the second day I am back to normal. My urologist told me to work with my pharmacy to try to get the medication from the prior company but they are not making this medication any longer. Be careful with the generics out there."
- NewBr...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- December 2, 2022
"Grew boobs. Would not recommend. Also caused severe drowsiness and fatigue."
- paul
- January 23, 2013
Avodart (dutasteride) "No change in PSA (still around 4) - sleep through the night though. No erectile dysfunction though however, cannot climax."
- J S P...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- September 26, 2021
Avodart (dutasteride) "My Urologist prescribed Dutasteride + Tamsulosyn to treat my enlarged prostate . I am taking this medicine for a month . It really works in decreasing my BPH symptoms . But I think my sex drive is also gradually decreasing . Please tell me how long does it take to develop erectile dysfunction and impotence..?"
- Pud
- Taken for 10 years or more
- February 7, 2021
Avodart (dutasteride) "I am 69 and took Avodart for 13 years. Good news is that it helped shrink my prostate and relieved nighttime urinary symptoms. My PSA went from around 7 down to 1.5. However, lots of bad news. The drug brought on several sexual problems: difficulty getting erections, loss of libido, no ejaculation. Over time I also developed enlarged breasts. I stopped taking it six months ago and so far the urinary problems have not returned. My PSA is now up to 2.8. Some of the sexual side effects have improved. I've lost weight but the breasts remain. I've consulted a plastic surgeon who has recommended fairly extensive surgery that will cost me $9000 out of pocket! My urologist has referred me for another opinion. This drug really took a toll on my system. None of these side effects were discussed ahead of time. My urologist says they are rare, but it appears they are more common than reports show. Beware of this drug!"
- Michael
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- May 14, 2018
Avodart (dutasteride) "Destroyed my penis. Destroyed my self-confidence. Destroyed my wife's happiness. How come these people have not found a safe way to reduce the prostate."
- Anonymous
- July 3, 2011
Avodart (dutasteride) "I am 66 years old, have been on Avodart and Tamsulosin for about a year. I was on Cardura for several years, but following the second episode of kidney stones, my Urologist switched me to Avodart and Tamsulosin. I also take a blood pressure medication and calcium supplements for osteoporosis (probably the culprit generating the kidney stones). Avodart and/or Tamsulosin has destroyed my ability to achieve erections and almost eliminated semen ejaculation, though my libido is not significantly diminished. Cardura did not produce these negative side effects."
- RabSa
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- October 3, 2022
"Took dutasterides 0.5 mg for 6 month. First 2-3 mths. Symptoms of BPH & urine flow got better, but PSA had no significant change. All known side-effects started to appear, additionally I got accelerated & strong heart beat felt in the side neck after moderate work, thos developed to moderate to severe pain in the heart & breast region. Add to this, my "lipid blood profile" especially LDL got very high. After 6 month of use the doctor advised to discontinue and check. Signs got gradually less until additional six month had passed. Now signs are very moderate - nearly vanished- and hope it will completely disappear soon."
- psfra...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- February 25, 2021
Avodart (dutasteride) "Serious balance issue first day of dutasteride tamsulosin."
- SHARK
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- March 18, 2019
"Been taking Duodart 500 mg for a month now, for benign prostatic enlargement. No great change to urine frequency, still four times a night. Side effects, erection problems and low semen, and non-event orgasms. Also, gas buildup in stomach and indigestion and reflux. Will trial for six months only."
- Scott...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- May 3, 2015
Avodart (dutasteride) "I've taken Avodart for several years. It sometimes worked better than other times. The side effects are terrible. Less than a month ago, I decided to try a natural formula and found many available. I decided to try Urinozinc Prostate Formula because of the high ratings. Within a week, I stopped taking Avodart. I'm back to normal...like I was years ago. I won't ever be taking Avodart again."
- artgu...
- August 31, 2009
Avodart (dutasteride) "I am 65 years old and have been taking Flomax for over a year. It works great for the flow of urine, but I had a few side effects so I switched to Avodart. My bad symptoms disappeared, but my flow of urine decreased, and after two weeks, I ended up with a Urinary Tract Infection. I see that some people take both Avodart and Flomax together for prostate problems."
- Alan
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- May 29, 2023
Avodart (dutasteride) "At 62 years old, I ended up in the ICU a couple of times due to a full bladder and lack of urine flow, resulting in the need for a catheter each time. My prostate size was 150. I started taking Avodart 6 months ago, and the first month was easy. However, by the third month, I experienced a complete loss of libido. I have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, and if it does happen, there is very little ejaculation. I'm looking forward to the surgery scheduled for next month, as I cannot continue with this medication in the long term."
- lowna...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- April 8, 2017
Avodart (dutasteride) "Been on Avodart for 2 years now, have been on testosterone replacement for 15 years, have seen a gradual improvement with urinary tract symptoms (difficulty urinating, low flow, trouble starting). Continue to have prostatitis, pelvic pain, dribbling. Avodart symptoms: no libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of penile sensation, low semen flow, depression (when I first started medication). Used to have high libido but now have no libido. Thank goodness for understanding SO with a 'hands-on approach'. 60 years old."
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.
Learn more about Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Anticholinergic Drugs to Avoid in the Elderly
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Symptoms and Treatment
- Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Medications and Alcohol Interactions
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Medicine.com guides (external)
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- Drug class: 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors
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"Confusion/brain fog. Almost wrecked my car. Was starting to get breast tissue. 2 months after discontinuation I still can't climax properly. Some erectile dysfunction as well. So, can't really share anything positive. Would be better off leaving it alone and not entirely sure why it's on the market. It does help with urination. I guess if you had zero interest in sex or concern over gyno it might make sense."