Dutasteride Capsule
An oral DHT blocker that suppresses DHT more broadly than finasteride and is used off-label for hair loss in the U.S.
Active ingredients: Dutasteride
$59 per month
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Dutasteride is not FDA-approved for hair loss in the U.S.; hair-loss use is off-label.
What it does
Dutasteride blocks both type I and type II 5-alpha-reductase, the enzymes involved in making DHT. Finasteride mainly blocks type II. Dutasteride is not a hormone.
What's in it
Dutasteride
- What it is
- 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor / DHT blocker.
- Hormone?
- Not a hormone.
- Why it's here
- It lowers DHT by blocking both major forms of the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT.
Why choose this one?
Why choose this one
For men comparing a stronger DHT-lowering option, including some who have had an incomplete response to finasteride.
Why choose another option?
Finasteride has FDA approval for male-pattern hair loss and a longer history in that indication. Dutasteride remains in the body much longer and is off-label for hair loss in the U.S.
Compare your options
Finasteride vs dutasteride
| Finasteride | Dutasteride | |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment type | 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (blocks the type II enzyme) | 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (blocks types I and II) |
| Who it's for | Men | Men |
| Formats | Topical combinations and an oral capsule | Oral capsule |
| Why choose it | FDA-approved (1 mg tablet) for male pattern hair loss; the most studied DHT blocker | Lowers DHT more; increased hair count more than finasteride 1 mg in a 24-week trial |
| What to know | Sexual side effects in a small minority | Off-label for hair loss; stays in the body for weeks |
| Pregnancy | Not for use in pregnancy; confirm handling precautions for compounded forms with your clinician or pharmacy | Capsules must not be handled by anyone who is or may become pregnant |
| Price at Avono | From $75 per month | From $59 per month |
Benefits and evidence
Dutasteride vs finasteride
- What the study found
- 917 men
- Who was studied
- 917 men with androgenetic alopecia
- What it means
- In a 24-week randomized trial, dutasteride 0.5 mg significantly increased hair count and hair width compared with finasteride 1 mg and placebo.
- Important context
- Hair-loss use of dutasteride in the U.S. is off-label. This is educational evidence, not a superiority claim for Avono's formulation. Oral dutasteride compared with oral finasteride and placebo · Dutasteride 0.5 mg; finasteride 1 mg · 24 weeks
- Source
- A randomized, active- and placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of different doses of dutasteride versus placebo and finasteride in the treatment of male subjects with androgenetic alopecia Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2014, PMID 24411083
Common side effects
Decreased libido, erectile or ejaculation changes, and breast tenderness or enlargement can occur.
What may help
Sexual side effects, if they occur, are worth raising early rather than waiting. Take capsules whole, and keep them away from anyone who is or may become pregnant.
Important safety information
Pregnancy and fertility. Not for anyone who is or may become pregnant. People who are or may become pregnant should not handle dutasteride capsules, because the medicine can be absorbed through the skin and may affect a male fetus.
Pregnant people should not handle leaking dutasteride capsules. Dutasteride can lower PSA substantially and affects interpretation of prostate screening. It has a very long elimination period. Hair-loss use is off-label.
Prescription treatments require evaluation by a licensed clinician and are not appropriate for everyone. Some ingredients are not appropriate during pregnancy or for people who may become pregnant. Compounded formulas are not FDA-approved. Not available in all states.
When to contact your clinician
Contact your clinician about sexual side effects that bother you, breast tenderness, enlargement or a lump, or mood changes. Tell any doctor ordering a PSA (prostate) blood test that you take dutasteride, because it lowers PSA.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent help for signs of a serious allergic reaction. Anyone who is or may become pregnant should not handle leaking capsules.
Questions people ask
What is DHT?
DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is made from testosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. It is strongly involved in male-pattern hair loss, which is why finasteride and dutasteride aim to reduce it.
Can this affect sexual function?
Yes, it can. Decreased libido and erectile/ejaculatory changes can occur.
How is this different from finasteride?
Dutasteride blocks both type I and type II 5-alpha reductase, while finasteride mainly targets type II, so dutasteride generally suppresses DHT more strongly.
Is dutasteride stronger than finasteride?
Dutasteride blocks both forms of the enzyme that makes DHT, so it lowers DHT more than finasteride. In a 24-week trial of 917 men, dutasteride 0.5 mg increased hair count and hair width more than finasteride 1 mg and placebo. Its use for hair loss in the U.S. is off-label, and it stays in the body much longer.
How long before I see results?
Hair grows slowly, so changes usually take months. In the finasteride trials and the 48-week topical minoxidil trial, results were measured over the better part of a year or longer. Your clinician can tell you when a review makes sense.
Why can pregnant people not handle the capsules?
Not for anyone who is or may become pregnant. People who are or may become pregnant should not handle dutasteride capsules, because the medicine can be absorbed through the skin and may affect a male fetus.
Discuss Dutasteride Capsule with a licensed clinician
Your clinician reviews your health history and decides whether this option, or another, is appropriate.
$59 per month
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Dutasteride Capsule $59 per month