I have taken Avodart on two occasions and found it to be very helpful.A
year after a PVP operation in 2004 my symptoms started to re-appear
quickly. I had a packet of Avodart left over from before the op.and
started to take it(0.5mg once a day).

Within 3 weeks the flow improved markedly,although others have reported
no effect for some months. After 6 months things were so good that I
discontinued and carried on with beta-sitosterol 375mg once a day.I might
add that after the first packet of Avodart I had switched to generic
Duprost. These names are Trade names for Dutasteride,the active
ingredient.I believe Avodart is the patent holder for Dutasteride.

3 months later the symptoms started to come back so the betasitosterol
was a failure;I went straight back on Duprost and again within 3 weeks
the flow came good again.It never returned to the flow achieved straight
after the PVP but it is quite good enough.So altogether I have had
nearly 12 months on Avodart/Duprost.

Side effects are a definite loss of libido but not too drastic, and a
return of full retro which had been lessening I guess as the prostate grew
back. Makes sense I suppose.

On balance I would not recommend it as a full treatment for BPH because
of the side effects but it really depends on the individual.More than just
libido I also imagined I was less active or had lost some "drive". When I
stopped taking it I had palpitations 2 weeks later lasting for a week.
Strange.

It is used as a cure for baldness but I already have hair.There is some
thought that it may protect against prostate cancer.If this were proved
true I would consider taking it on a permanent basis. I have also read on
this group that some uro's are recommending one Avodart a week after PVP
to slow re-growth instead of one a day which is the dose to shrink the
prostate. I might do this just to be on the safe side.

Avodart is very hard on the wallet but by using generics if you can, the
financial pain is much less. I have proved to my own satisfaction that
some generics are OK.

To complete the picture,I am not overweight and I have no other
complaints apart from BPH. I am 71 yrs old and active in every way.

dodo