Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Dutasteride as follows:
- Dutasteride use in men might result in increased risk for prostate cancer. Individuals can present with increased pain and discomfort during urination and ejaculation, trouble starting and stopping the urination, increased frequency of urge for urination, and frank blood in urine. In individuals with metastases of prostate cancer, patients can also present with skeletal and bone pain, as bone is the primary site of metastasis for prostate cancer. Report any of these above findings while taking Dutasteride, to your physician immediately, for further investigation and changes in plan of care.
- Dutasteride intake carries a small remote risk of causing and aggravating some underlying cardiac arrhythmias, leading to severe debility and death. Discuss with your physician regarding your history of cardiac arrhythmia, if you are newly started on Dutasteride. If you are newly diagnosed with any cardiac arrhythmias, discuss with your physician regarding your safety with regards to continuing on Dutasteride, if you have been using the medication for long. Report to your physician regarding any new development or exacerbation of signs and symptoms of arrhythmias, such as, frequent episodes of fatigue, lightheadedness, irregular rapid pounding heartbeat, near fainting, shortness of breath, and chest pain or discomfort.
- Observe compliance with the timing of dose intake, by having the medication dose at the same time every day. This helps to avoid forgetting the intake of medication and maintain the medication levels in the blood, needed to derive the therapeutic benefits.
