Dutasteride for Hair Loss: Everything You Should Know About This Off-Label Treatment
Key takeaways:
Dutasteride (Avodart) is a prescription medication that’s FDA approved to treat an enlarged prostate. While it isn’t approved to treat hair loss, it’s sometimes used off label for this purpose.
Some data suggests that dutasteride for hair loss is more effective than minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). Your healthcare professional might recommend a combination of dutasteride and minoxidil for best results.
Women who are or can become pregnant should avoid taking dutasteride. As an added precaution, they should avoid touching or handling it.
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Hair loss can be challenging — no matter who it happens to. Thankfully, several hair loss treatments are available over the counter (OTC) and with a prescription. This includes topical medications, such as minoxidil (Rogaine), and oral medications, such as finasteride (Propecia). But if popular medications such as these haven’t produced meaningful results, you may be considering dutasteride (Avodart).
Dutasteride is a medication that’s similar to finasteride, but it has a few differences that make it stand out.
What is dutasteride used for?
Dutasteride (Avodart) is an FDA-approved medication that’s available with a prescription from a healthcare professional (HCP). It can treat an enlarged prostate and the urinary symptoms that come with it. It can also lower the risk of needing prostate-related surgery.
You may have also noticed that both dutasteride and finasteride have similar-sounding names. This is because they’re both 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and they work in a similar way.
But, between the two, only finasteride is officially approved to treat hair loss. Dutasteride is sometimes prescribed off-label as a hair loss treatment. The usual oral dutasteride dosage for hair loss is 0.5 mg (one capsule) taken once daily.
Can dutasteride be used as hair loss treatment?
Yes, unofficially.
For many people, hormones such as testosterone are a culprit for hair loss. Testosterone is converted into a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) by an enzyme (protein) called 5-alpha-reductase. High levels of DHT can affect your hair follicles and disrupt hair growth. This can result in hair loss.
When you take dutasteride (or finasteride), this medication blocks the action of 5-alpha-reductase. This leads to lower amounts of DHT to help restore your natural hair growth cycle.
However, dutasteride and finasteride block 5-alpha-reductase in slightly different ways. Finasteride blocks one form of 5-alpha-reductase, while dutasteride blocks two forms. Blocking two types of 5-alpha-reductase can lead to more substantial reductions in DHT.
How effective is dutasteride (Avodart) for hair loss?
Many health experts consider dutasteride to be an effective treatment for hair loss.
For example, one study compared dutasteride for male-pattern hair loss to placebo (a pill with no medication in it). After 6 months of treatment, men taking dutasteride had almost three times the hair density compared to men taking placebo. It was also found to be safe — there wasn’t a major difference in side effects between the two groups.
Is dutasteride better than finasteride for hair loss?
Potentially. As mentioned, finasteride only hinders one version of 5-alpha-reductase. Dutasteride blocks two forms of this enzyme. This may lead to more substantial hair regrowth.
In another study, some men took finasteride and others took dutasteride. They were followed for almost 6 months and then their hair volume was measured. Men that took dutasteride had a greater increase in hair counts compared to men that took finasteride. Both groups had similar side effects, with sexual problems being the most common.
However, keep in mind that dutasteride and finasteride haven’t been widely compared for hair loss. Your HCP can tell you if dutasteride or finasteride is more appropriate for you.
Is dutasteride better than minoxidil for hair loss?
Minoxidil is another hair loss medication. You may have seen it advertised OTC as Rogaine or generic minoxidil in the form of a topical liquid or foam. But dutasteride for hair loss is generally seen to be more effective than minoxidil.
Dutasteride was compared to finasteride and minoxidil in a meta analysis. This type of study collects and interprets data from multiple studies to come up with a summarized conclusion. In this review, dutasteride was found to be more effective than finasteride, oral minoxidil, and topical minoxidil.
However, this doesn’t mean you have to pick one product specifically. These medications are often used in combination for the treatment of hair loss. By taking both dutasteride and minoxidil, you’re able to attack hair loss in two different ways. Pairing them up can result in greater hair preservation.
Based on your situation and degree of hair loss, your HCP can recommend the best treatment(s) for you.
How long does dutasteride take to work for hair loss?
Dutasteride (and finasteride) likely won’t work right away. It may take some time before you notice any meaningful changes in your hair density.
One study found that dutasteride led to improvements in hair count in as early as 3 months of use. However, it may take more time before you see full results. Consider taking dutasteride for at least 3 to 6 months to more fairly evaluate its effectiveness.
However, dutasteride is considered a long-term hair loss treatment. It only works when you take it. Think of it as a “use it or lose it” treatment; it’s important to continue taking dutasteride to maintain your hair growth. You may lose your regrown hair or experience hair loss if you stop taking dutasteride.
Dutasteride side effects to keep in mind
Dutasteride is a well-tolerated medication that has been available by prescription for more than 2 decades. But, dutasteride can cause side effects, as with all medications.
Most dutasteride side effects in clinical studies were sexual in nature. Side effects may include:
Ejaculation problems
Breast enlargement
Dizziness
Again, these side effects aren’t very common. They occurred in less than 5% of people in clinical studies. Contact your HCP for guidance if you experience a troublesome side effect or a side effect that doesn’t go away.
Who should not take dutasteride?
Dutasteride hair loss treatment isn’t for everyone. Children, adolescents, and many women should avoid it.
It’s especially important for pregnant women (and women who can become pregnant) to avoid taking dutasteride. Women of childbearing age shouldn’t touch or handle the medication either; it can be absorbed through the skin and potentially affect the genital development of baby boys. If you’ve been exposed to dutasteride, you should wash your hands with soap and water right away.
What’s more, you shouldn’t donate blood while taking dutasteride. This is a precaution in case your blood is donated to a pregnant woman. You must wait at least 6 months after your last dose before considering a blood donation.
Can women take dutasteride?
Yes — but only with certain precautions in place. It should only be considered if you’re not pregnant or can’t become pregnant.
While the use of dutasteride for women isn’t approved or widely recommended, it’s sometimes taken off-label for the treatment of hair loss. One study found that women with female-pattern hair loss who took finasteride or dutasteride for 3 years had a significant improvement in hair thickness. For women younger than 50 years old, dutasteride performed even better than finasteride.
The bottom line
Dutasteride (Avodart) for hair loss is considered to be an effective, off-label treatment. It’s often used in combination with other hair loss medications, like minoxidil, for additive effects. But it should be avoided by women who are or can become pregnant. Dutasteride can also cause sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction and a lower sex drive.
Why trust our experts?
References
Boersma, I. H., et al. (2014). The effectiveness of finasteride and dutasteride used for 3 years in women with androgenetic alopecia. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology.
Bryant Ranch Prepack. (2023). Dutasteride [package insert].
Eun, H. C., et al. (2010). Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of dutasteride 0.5 mg once daily in male patients with male pattern hair loss: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Gupta, A. K., et al. (2022). Relative efficacy of minoxidil and the 5-α reductase inhibitors in androgenetic alopecia treatment of male patients. JAMA Dermatology.
Olsen, E., et al. (2006). The importance of dual 5alpha-reductase inhibition in the treatment of male pattern hair loss: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled study of dutasteride versus finasteride. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Shanshanwal, S. J. S., et al. (2017). Superiority of dutasteride over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled open-label, evaluator-blinded study. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology.
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