Dutasteride Review (Avodart)
Dutasteride (trade name Avodart) is a dual, 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. 5-alpha reductase is an enzyme present in the human body, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT has been found to be the main cause of hair loss, known as male pattern baldness. Dutasteride belongs to the same group of drugs as finasteride (the main active ingredient of Propecia) but it is a dual, 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, so that it inhibits both isoforms of 5-alpha reductase and is therefore believed to be a more potent DHT blocker. It is a newer drug than finasteride and, in the form of Avodart, it has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
GlaxoSmithKline developed this drug and has conducted a clinical trial with the aim of examining its effects on hair loss. The final phase of this trial was completed a few years ago. The published study results indicate that dutasteride is a more powerful hair loss pill than finasteride, especially more effective when it comes to regrowing hair in the frontal area of the scalp. Despite early worries, the study showed that potential side effects associated with the continued use of dutasteride aren't any more severe or frequent than when using finasteride 1mg. They actually are similar to those of finasteride, such as decreased libido, ejaculation disorders, weight gain and, in extreme cases, breast enlargement. However, dutasteride, being a dual 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, stays in the human body much longer. Finasteride virtually disappears within 24 hours, whereas the serum half-life for dutasteride can be several months.
On the back of positive clinical test results, dutasteride received approvals for treating androgenic alopecia in men from Korean and Japanese authorities. The approvals with the FDA in the US and the EMA in Europe were not sought by GlaxoSmithKline because dutasteride is no longer under patent protection in these markets.
Dutasteride, though not approved for treating hair loss by the FDA in the US, is being commonly prescribed by hair restoration doctors in the US as an "off label" treatment for hair loss, though with caution and after a complete examination and diagnosis by an experienced specialist in urology. Consumer reviews of dutasteride's effectiveness in treating hair loss can be found at online forums and seem largely positive. The main negative factor mentioned in such reviews is obviously the fear of side effects, though the immediate effects do not seem to be any more worrying than those from the use of finasteride.