Avodart and Impotence

There are some possible sexual side effects with Avodart, and impotence is one that occurs in up to 4.7 percent of people. Other common sexual side effects of Avodart include a decreased sex drive and a decreased ejaculation amount. Because it is difficult to know whether these problems are caused by another condition or by Avodart itself, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking Avodart and libido decreases or you develop any other sexual side effects.

 

An Overview of Avodart, Impotence, and Other Sexual Side Effects

Avodart® (dutasteride) is a prescription medication that is used for the treatment of an enlarged prostate. Like all medicines, Avodart has possible side effects. Some of these side effects can affect a person's sexual well-being. In the case of Avodart, sexual side effects that have been reported include:
 
  • A decreased sex drive (libido).
     
  • Impotence. Impotence is usually defined as a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. Ultimately, impotence is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction (or ED for short).
     
  • Abnormal ejaculation, including a decreased ejaculation amount. In general, a decreased ejaculation amount did not affect other aspects of sexual function.
     

How Common Are Impotence and Other Sexual Side Effects in People Taking Avodart?

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies in which thousands of people are given a particular medicine and are then compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
 
For Avodart, the sexual side effects mentioned above occurred in the following percentage of men:
 
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence -- up to 4.7 percent of people
  • A decreased libido (sex drive) -- up to 3 percent of people
  • Abnormal ejaculation, including a decreased ejaculate amount -- up to 1.4 percent of people.
     
(Avodart and Impotence Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;