Product Information

Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) Medication

Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) medication is proven to improve symptoms in men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and an enlarged prostate. Generic Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) is not a treatment for prostate cancer.

The benefits of Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) medication are:

• Reduces the size of your prostate - not all prostate medicines can do that
• Reduces your risk of surgery for an enlarged prostate
• Reduces the risk of complications such as acute urinary retention (AUR)
• Over time, improves your bothersome urinary symptoms

Generic Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) works by lowering the production of the male hormone that causes your prostate to enlarge. Just as it took your prostate time to grow, it also takes time for your prostate to shrink.

Generic Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) medication begins to shrink your prostate in 1 month with a continued gradual reduction in prostate size throughout the first 2 years of treatment and will continue to hold your prostate to a smaller size. If your prostate is smaller, it will put less pressure on your urethra. Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) should provide symptom improvement after 3 to 6 months, and your symptoms should continue to improve with prolonged usage. By shrinking the prostate, Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) arrests the disease process of BPH.

Studies have shown that treatment with Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) for 2 years reduces the risk of acute urinary retention and/or the risk of needing surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Not all prostate medicines have been shown to reduce the risk of acute urinary retention (AUR) and BPH-related surgery.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Information

The prostate is one of the main components of the male reproductive system and plays a vital role in the development of the male sex organs. In adult men, its main function is to add important fluids to the semen supplying nourishment to the sperm during ejaculation. This protects the semen against naturally occurring acids located within the vagina. In many men, the prostate begins to grow when they are in their 50s and usually continues to grow throughout the rest of their lives.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy, is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, a small gland that encircles the urethra in males and produces a fluid that makes up part of semen. As the volume of the prostate increases, it can put pressure on the urethra, causing a slowdown in the urine stream, hesitancy in urinating, a frequent and urgent need to urinate, and sometimes dribbling of urine at the end of the flow. It can also cause urine retention, which can weaken the bladder muscle and increase the risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stones. In severe cases of BPH, urine may back up into and damage the kidneys. Rarely, BPH may prevent a patient from urinating at all, a situation that requires immediate medical attention.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can also affect sexual functioning. It can lead to reduced sexual ability, painful orgasm, and impotence. The type and severity of symptoms experienced will vary from person to person and may vary over time. For many men, BPH never progresses beyond a minor to moderate annoyance; for others, it may represent a significant challenge to their quality of life. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) becomes a very common condition in men as they age. According to the American Urology Association, about 50% of men will have some degree of BPH by the time they are 60 years old, and up to 90% will be affected by age 80. While BPH does not cause prostate cancer, both may be found together.

Causes of BPH

The cause of benign prostatic hyperplasia is unknown. It is possible that the condition is associated with hormonal changes that occur as men age. The testes produce the hormone testosterone, which is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (estrogen) in certain tissues. High levels of dihydrotestosterone, a testosterone derivative involved in prostate growth, may accumulate and cause hyperplasia. How and why levels of DHT increase remains a subject of research.

Signs and Symptoms of Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Common symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia include the following:

• Blood in the urine (i.e., hematuria), caused by straining to void
• Dribbling after voiding
• Feeling that the bladder has not emptied completely after urination
• Frequent urination, particularly at night (i.e., nocturia)
• Hesitant, interrupted, or weak urine stream caused by decreased force
• Leakage of urine (i.e., overflow incontinence)
• Pushing or straining to begin urination
• Recurrent, sudden, urgent need to urinate

In severe cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH), another symptom, acute urinary retention (the inability to urinate), can result from holding urine for a long time, alcohol consumption, long period of inactivity, cold temperatures, allergy or cold medications containing decongestants or antihistamines, and some prescription drugs (e.g., ipratropium bromide, albuterol, epinephrine). Any of these factors can prevent the urinary sphincter from relaxing and allowing urine to flow out of the bladder. Acute urinary retention causes severe pain and discomfort. Catheterization may be necessary to drain urine from the bladder and obtain relief.

Treatment of BPH

There are several treatment options for men with benign prostate hyperplasia, depending on the severity of symptoms. If symptoms do not threaten the man's health, he may choose not to be treated. If symptoms are severe enough to cause discomfort, interfere with daily activities, or threaten health, treatment is usually recommended.

• Watchful waiting
  Men with mild symptoms may choose to return for annual examinations. The physician will perform an examination that includes a DRE, PSA tests, and a urinary flow rate. The patient will be asked to describe symptoms in order to determine if the condition is worsening.
• Medication
  5-Alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet)) prevent the conversion of testosterone to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In many cases, a treatment period of 6-month is necessary to see if the therapy is going to work. These drugs are taken orally, once a day.
• Alpha blockers relax smooth muscle tissue in the bladder neck and prostate, which increases urinary flow. They typically are taken orally, once or twice a day.

Commonly prescribed alpha blockers include the following:

• alfuzosin (UroXatral), extended-release tablet taken once daily
• doxazosin (Cardura), tablet taken once daily
• prazosin (Minipress), capsule taken 2 or 3 times daily
• tamsulosin hydrochloride (Flomax), capsule taken once daily
• terazosin (Hytrin), capsule taken once daily

Patients taking an alpha blocker require follow-up during the first 3 or 4 weeks to evaluate the effect on symptoms and adjust the dosage, if necessary.

• Prostatic Stents

Although a prostatic stent is not a medical treatment, neither does it fall under the classification of a surgical procedure. Prostatic stents are used most often for patients with significant medical problems that prohibit medication or surgery. It is a tiny, spring-like device inserted into the urethra. When expanded, it pushes back the surrounding tissue and widens the urethra. Prostatic stents have several advantages:

• They can be placed in less than 15 minutes under regional anesthesia.
• Bleeding during and after surgery is minimal.
• The patient can be discharged the same day or the next morning.

There are also several disadvantages:

• Prepositioning can be difficult.
• They may cause irritation and frequent urination.
• They may cause pain or incontinence.
• Removing them (necessary in one-third of cases) can be difficult.

Side effects of BPH Medications

• Side effects of Proscar & Avodart 0.5mg (120 Tablet) include reduced libido, impotence, breast tenderness and enlargement, and reduced sperm count. Long-term risks and benefits have not been studied.
• Women who may be pregnant must avoid handling dutasteride capsules and broken or crushed finasteride tablets because exposure to the drugs may cause serious side effects to the fetus. Intact tablets are coated to prevent absorption through the skin during normal handling. Patients should wait at least 6 months after dutasteride treatment to donate blood to prevent pregnant women from being exposed to the drug through blood transfusion.
• Side effects of Alpha blockers include headache, dizziness, low blood pressure, fatigue, weakness, and difficulty breathing. Long-term risks and benefits have not been studied.