Dutasteride is sometimes used off-label for hair loss. Learn more about what side effects you might expect from this medication.
Dutasteride is a popular medication for prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, and it is increasingly becoming a prominent off-label medication for hair loss treatment.
As with most medications, there are potential side effects that may develop during the course of treatment.
Below, we will cover some of the common side effects that may occur when you are using Dutasteride in both its oral and topical forms.
Dutasteride is in the class of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. The popular prostate and hair loss medication, Finasteride, is also in this same class.
Dutasteride and Finasteride are very similar medications in that they both inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase in order to decrease the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), although Dutasteride may block the enzyme more strongly than Finasteride.
This is helpful for both prostate enlargement and hair loss as DHT is known to be a culprit in both of these conditions.
Dutasteride is currently only FDA approved for use in prostate enlargement (BPH) under the brand name Avodart, but it is commonly prescribed off-label for male pattern hair loss.
Learn More: What is Dutasteride Used for?: FDA-Approved and Off-label Uses
Dutasteride is currently manufactured into a 0.5mg capsule under the brand name Avodart for use in prostate enlargement.
However, you may also find Dutasteride compounded into different capsule strengths or topical formulations for application to the scalp from compounding pharmacies with a prescription from a doctor.
Here at Strut Health, we offer both capsule and topical formulations of Dutasteride as well as online consultations with a doctor to see if this prescription is a good fit for you.
The potential side effects for Dutasteride may differ between the oral and topical formulations of the medication, as normally when a medication is applied, it gets into the rest of the body less than with an oral formulation.
The following are the most common side effects of oral Dutasteride (Avodart) 0.5mg capsules. These side effects occurred in less than 1% of the patients being treated with the Avodart capsules, and occurred more commonly than those taking a placebo:
If you are experiencing these side effects while taking Dutasteride, speak with your doctor to see if any adjustments should be made or if you should stop treatment.
Watch Related: Dr. Bauman: Is Topical Dutasteride a Game-Changer for Receding Hairlines?
Since topical Dutasteride is not currently in a manufactured topical medication, it is currently only able to be made by compounding pharmacy according to a prescription written by a doctor for off-label use in hair loss for men.
Because of this, there are not many studies thus far to determine all potential side effects of topical Dutasteride, or see if they are the same as the oral Dutasteride capsules. A small scale pilot study in 15 men reported no side effects with the use of topical Dutasteride 2-3 times per week for three months, but did report significant hair benefits.
In general, topical formulations carry less risk of systemic (whole-body) side effects than oral capsules or tablets, but more studies need to be done to confirm this.
The potential side effects of topical Dutasteride may be found to be similar to the closely related medication, Finasteride, which has been found to have mainly minor reactions focused on the application site.
Finasteride topical may have the following potential side effects when used in a topical formulation along with Minoxidil:
We carry Dutasteride and Finasteride formulas in both oral and topical formulations to help you find the best fit for your hair goals.
You can have a free online questionnaire-based consultation with our U.S. licensed doctors in 10-15 minutes.
If you are a good fit for Finasteride or Dutasteride capsules or topical formulations, your prescription hair loss medication can be shipped to your front door with our free 2-day shipping.
During your treatment, our staff and doctors will be available for free unlimited follow-ups to help you through your treatment plan.
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