JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has released dutasteride capsules 0.5 mg, a medication for enlarged prostate, in the United States.

Teva said Monday that its product is a generic version of Avodart capsules from GlaxoSmithKline and noted that, as the first to file, it expects to be exclusive for several weeks.

Dutasteride capsules are indicated for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate to improve symptoms, reduce the risk of acute urinary retention and lower the risk of the need for BPH-related surgery, according to Teva. The medication is sometimes taken with tamsulosin (Flomax), an alpha adrenergic antagonist, for treating symptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate.

A 5 alpha-reductase enzyme inhibitor, dutasteride lowers production of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Avodart capsules totaled annual U.S. sales of approximately $467 million for the 12 months ended in July, according to IMS Health data cited by Teva.