Duodart - Effects, dosage and usage notes

Article by Pharmacist Nguyen Huy Khiem - Clinical Pharmacist - Faculty of Pharmacy - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Benign Prostastic Hyperplasia is a common disease in middle-aged men and older. Duodart is a drug for the treatment of symptoms of prostate enlargement by two different mechanisms on two active ingredients, dutasteride (0.5 mg) and tamsulosin (0.4 mg). Here are some information to keep in mind when patients use Duodart.

Duodart is indicated for the treatment of symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (such as urinary retention, dysuria, nocturia, urinary incontinence, frequent urination,...). Typically, the drug is indicated in patients with moderate to severe symptoms.
The drug exhibits therapeutic effects through 2 different mechanisms of action:
Tamsulosin: a selective antagonist at alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (which is abundant in the prostate gland, bladder neck), thereby helping to Relaxes bladder neck smooth muscle, prostate gland, rapidly improves urine flow rate as well as symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Dutasteride: a selective inhibitor of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, thereby inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT (the main component responsible for the development and proliferation of the prostate gland), thereby slowing down the process. prostatic hypertrophy, limiting existing symptoms of urinary tract aggravation.

Duodart is used orally and prescribed by a doctor. Accordingly, adults will take 1 tablet / day, after eating ~ 30 minutes.

3.1. Side effects of Duodart 0.5mg/0.4mg With the active ingredient tamsulosin, the drug can cause orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting when changing positions suddenly: lying - sitting - standing). Therefore, when using Duodart 0.5mg/0.4mg, patients need to change their position slowly to limit unwanted effects. Concomitant use of certain drugs such as antihypertensive drugs, nitrates for angina pectoris, etc. can make this undesirable effect more likely to appear. With the active ingredient dutasteride , the drug is thought to cause impaired sexual function in men. However, there is not much clear evidence about this undesirable effect of the drug. It is important to inform the doctor and medical staff that you are taking Duodart before undergoing eye surgery so that an appropriate discontinuation plan can be planned before surgery to reduce the risk of IFIS (intraoperative floppy iris syndrome) - bland iris syndrome). The drug should not be exposed to other people (except the patient), especially pregnant women. The reason is that the dutasteride component of the drug is teratogenic and can be absorbed into the body by skin contact. 3.2. Contraindications and cautions when using Duodart Duodart 0.5mg/0.4mg should not be used in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Because the drug can cause dizziness (especially when changing positions suddenly), care should be taken when performing activities that require concentration such as driving or operating machinery during use. medicine. To use Duodart safely, you need to consult your doctor fully about dosage, contraindications, drug interactions. When the patient has any unusual signs after taking the drug, it is necessary to inform the doctor.