dutasteride

Patient/Family Teaching

• Instruct patient to take dutasteride at the same time each day as directed, even if symptoms improve or are unchanged. Take missed doses as soon as remembered later in the day or omit dose. Do not make up by taking double doses the next day.

• Caution patient that sharing of dutasteride may be dangerous.

• Inform patient that the volume of ejaculate may be decreased during therapy but that this will not interfere with normal sexual function.

• Advise patient to avoid donating blood for at least 6 mo after last dose of dutasteride to prevent a pregnant female from receiving dutasteride through a blood transfusion.

• Inform patient of potential increase risk in high-grade prostate cancer.

• Caution patient that dutasteride poses a potential risk to a male fetus. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid exposure to semen of a partner taking dutasteride and should not handle dutasteride because of the potential for absorption.

• Emphasize the importance of periodic follow-up exams to determine whether a clinical response has occurred.