Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The
full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine,
speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I taking DUODART?
DUODART contains the active ingredients dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride.
DUODART is used in men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
2. What should I know before I take DUODART?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to DUODART, any other 5 alpha
reductase inhibitors or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions or take any other medicines.
Talk to your doctor if your partner is pregnant or plans to become pregnant or is
breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with DUODART and affect how it works.
4. How do I take DUODART?
The usual dosage is one capsule once per day.
Take your medicine approximately 30 minutes after the same meal each day. Do not take
DUODART on an empty stomach.
5. What should I know while taking DUODART?
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Things you should do
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Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking DUODART.
If you are having a blood test remind your doctor that you are taking DUODART.
If you are having cataract surgery, tell your surgeon that you are taking DUODART.
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Things you should not do
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Do not stop using this medicine suddenly or change the dose.
Do not donate blood whilst taking DUODART or for 6 months after stopping treatment.
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Driving or using machines
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Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
DUODART can cause dizziness, light-headedness and potential fainting due to a sudden
drop in blood pressure upon standing up (orthostatic hypotension).
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Looking after your medicine
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Store your capsules in the bottle until it is time to take them.
Store the capsules below 25°C.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Side effects which have been reported include impotence (an inability to maintain
an erection), decrease in libido (sex drive), difficulty with ejaculation, breast
swelling or tenderness, difficulty in sleeping (insomnia), dizziness, constipation,
diarrhoea, vomiting, a fast heart beat, feeling weak or a loss of strength, low blood
pressure upon standing up, itchy, blocked or runny nose and allergic reactions.
Active ingredient(s):
dutasteride 500 micrograms and tamsulosin hydrochloride 400 micrograms
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using DUODART. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about using DUODART.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I taking DUODART?
DUODART contains the active ingredients dutasteride and tamsulosin hydrochloride.
Dutasteride belongs to a group of medicines called 5-alpha reductase enzyme inhibitors.
Tamsulosin hydrochloride belongs to a group of medicines called alpha-blockers.
DUODART is used in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland which is located in the lower
portion of the urinary bladder surrounding the urethra (urine carrying tube). In men
with BPH, the prostate gland becomes large enough to squeeze the urine tube running
through it. If this tube is squeezed it narrows, making it more difficult to pass
urine and you may have some or all of the following symptoms:
difficulty in starting to urinate
an interrupted, weak urinary stream
more frequent urination, especially at night
feeling that you need to urinate right away
leaking or dribbling
a feeling that you cannot empty your bladder completely
As the disease progresses, untreated BPH can lead to an increased risk of complete
blockage of urine flow (acute urinary retention) and/or the need for surgery.
Prostate growth is caused by a hormone in the blood called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
The dutasteride component of DUODART lowers DHT production in the body leading to
a shrinkage of the enlarged prostate in most men. The tamsulosin hydrochloride component
of DUODART acts by relaxing the smooth muscle in your prostate gland making it easier
to pass urine.
Just as your prostate becomes enlarged over a long period of time, reducing the size
of your prostate and improving your symptoms may take time.
Your doctor may have prescribed DUODART for another reason. Ask your doctor if you
are unsure why DUODART was prescribed for you.
DUODART is not addictive
2. What should I know before I take DUODART?
Warnings
Do not use DUODART if:
you are allergic to dutasteride, tamsulosin hydrochloride, or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can
use this medicine.
you are allergic to any other 5 alpha reductase enzyme inhibitors
you are a woman or child
you have a history of a sudden drop in blood pressure upon standing up (known as orthostatic
hypotension)
you have liver or kidney disease
you are taking other medications that relax the smooth muscle of your blood vessels
(e.g. Flomaxtra, Minipress)
the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed
the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
Check with your doctor if you:
have any other medical conditions
suffer from any liver or kidney conditions
are going to have cataract surgery
are taking any medicines to lower your blood pressure (alpha blocker medicines that
relax the smooth muscles within blood vessels)
are taking an antifungal medicine (e.g. ketoconazole)
you have an allergy to sulphur
take any medicines for any other condition
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if your partner is pregnant or intends to become pregnant or is
breastfeeding.
Women who are pregnant or may be pregnant, and children, must avoid handling punctured
or leaking capsules. If skin contact occurs wash the area immediately with soap and
water.
If dutasteride is absorbed through the skin by a woman who is pregnant with a male
baby, it may cause the baby to be born with abnormalities of the genital organs.
Dutasteride has been found in the semen of men taking dutasteride. If your partner
is or may be pregnant you must avoid exposing her to your semen as dutasteride may
affect the normal development of a male baby. You must use a barrier form of contraception.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any foods, dyes, preservatives
or any other medicines.
Some medicines may interfere with DUODART and affect how it works.
long-term combination of dutasteride with medicines that are potent inhibitors of
the enzyme CYP3A4 (e.g. ritonavir, indinavir, nefazodone, itraconzole, ketoconazole)
may increase the concentration of dutasteride in the blood
antifungal medicines such as ketoconazole can lead to an increase in the concentration
of tamsulosin hydrochloride in the blood
antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. paroxetine)
can lead to an increase in the concentration of tamsulosin hydrochloride in the blood
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect DUODART.
4. How do I take DUODART?
How much to take
The usual dose is one capsule daily.
Follow the instructions provided and use DUODART until your doctor tells you to stop.
When to take DUODART
DUODART should be taken approximately 30 minutes after the same meal each day. Do
not take this medicine on an empty stomach.
Swallow your capsule whole with some water.
Do not crush or chew the capsules. The contents of the capsule may make your mouth
or throat sore.
If you forget to take DUODART
DUODART should be taken at the same time each day.
If you forget to take DUODART skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when
you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you take too much DUODART
If you think that you have used too much DUODART, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling
13 11 26), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while taking DUODART?
Things you should do
Tell your doctor if you:
have not taken DUODART exactly as directed
are having a blood test, tell your doctor you are taking DUODART as this medicine
decreases your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.
The PSA test helps your doctor to tell if you have prostate disease, including prostate
cancer. If you have a higher than normal amount of PSA in your blood it could mean
that you have a higher risk of prostate cancer. Men taking DUODART should have their
PSA measured 6 months after starting treatment and then regularly after that. You
could still be at risk for prostate cancer even though your PSA is lower. Your doctor
can still use PSA to help detect prostate cancer, by comparing your test results each
time you have a PSA test.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking DUODART.
Things to be careful of
If you are having a cataract operation and are taking or have previously taken DUODART,
the pupil may dilate poorly and the iris (the coloured part of the eye) may become
floppy during the operation (floppy iris syndrome). This can be managed if your surgeon
knows that you are taking DUODART before you have the operation. If you are going
to have eye surgery tell your surgeon that you are taking or have taken DUODART.
In a clinical study of men at increased risk of developing prostate cancer, a serious
form of prostate cancer was reported more often in men taking DUODART than men who
did not take DUODART. The reasons for this is currently unknown but may be due to
the design of the clinical study.
Be careful if you are switching from another tamsulosin containing medicine to DUODART
as you may experience dizziness or light headedness when standing up.
If you feel dizzy or lightheaded at any time whilst taking DUODART, sit or lie down
until the symptoms pass.
Things you should not do
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly or change the dose.
Some men notice an early improvement in their symptoms however others may need to
continue treatment for 3 to 6 months to see if DUODART works for them.
Continue to take this medicine as your symptoms improve.
If you do not take your medicine as directed it may interfere with your doctor’s ability
to monitor your PSA levels.
Do not donate blood whilst taking DUODART or for 6 months after you stop treatment.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else even if they have similar symptoms to you.
Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how DUODART
affects you.
DUODART may cause some people to experience dizziness or light headedness.
Looking after your medicine
Follow the instructions on the bottle on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place (below 25oC) away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.
Store your capsules in the bottle until it is time to take them.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
In clinical studies where patients were taking both the individual components of DUODART,
the rate of heart failure (meaning your heart does not pump blood as well as it should)
was higher than in patients taking the individual components alone. However, this
was seen in less than 1% of patients.
If you are taking DUODART, talk to your doctor about this and other possible side
effects.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Less serious side effects
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Less serious side effects
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What to do
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impotence (inability to maintain an erection)
decrease in libido (sex drive)
difficulty with ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation (where the ejaculate goes back
into the bladder instead of being squirted out)
decrease in semen volume
difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)
dizziness
constipation
diarrhoea
vomiting
fast heart beat
weakness or loss of strength
hair loss (usually from the body) or hair growth
fainting
changes in your mood, feeling depressed
itchy, blocked or runny nose
changes in your vision
nose bleeds
dry mouth
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Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.
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Serious side effects
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Serious side effects
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What to do
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allergic reaction – signs include wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of the
lips or mouth, a rash or hives on the skin and fainting
breast swelling or tenderness. If this becomes troublesome or you notice breast lumps
or nipple discharge talk to your doctor about these changes as they could be signs
of a serious condition such as breast cancer
serious skin reactions with a widespread rash, blisters and peeling skin particularly
around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
testicular pain and/or swelling
low blood pressure upon standing up (orthostatic hypotension). Take care when moving
from a lying or sitting position to a standing position
prolonged erection unrelated to sexual activity
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your
nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.
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Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What DUODART contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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dutasteride
tamsulosin hydrochloride
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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butylated hydroxytoluene
carnauba wax
carrageenan
microcrystalline cellulose
gelatin
glycerol
glyceryl caprylate/caprate
hypromellose
iron oxide red
iron oxide yellow
lecithin
medium chain triglycerides
ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) methacrylic acid
potassium chloride
maize starch
sunset yellow FCF
purified talc
titanium dioxide
triethyl citrate
purified water
TekPrint SW-9008 Black Ink
TekPrint SW-9010 Black Ink
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Potential allergens
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lecithin
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What DUODART looks like
DUODART capsules are an oblong, hard-shell capsule with a brown body and an orange
cap imprinted with GS 7CZ in black ink.
DUODART is available in bottles of 7, 30 or 90 capsules.
Not all pack sizes may be distributed in Australia.
AUST R 162530
Who distributes DUODART
GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd
Level 4, 436 Johnston Street
Abbotsford VIC 3067
Australia
This leaflet was prepared in January 2024.
Trade marks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies.
© 2024 GSK group of companies or its licensor
Version 13.0