Dutasteride

Dutasteride can be used on its own, yet it can also be used alongside other treatments such as Minoxidil.

Although this medication was traditionally created to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is the enlargement of the prostate, it has now become a common treatment for hair loss in men. It works similarly to Finasteride, which is another standard hair loss treatment. Both medications are designed to prevent testosterone from being converted into dihydrotestosterone, otherwise known as DHT. DHT is a hormone that results in male pattern baldness.

Studies have found that Dutasteride is more effective at treating male pattern baldness than other hair loss medications and significantly improves hair counts in as little as 24 weeks.

What is Dutasteride used for?

Dutasteride is a type of medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is also known as enlarged prostate.

However, Dutasteride can also be used for hair loss treatment. In some countries, Dutasteride has been approved as a treatment for male pattern baldness. Although, this is not the case worldwide when it comes to Dutasteride for hair loss, and it is not licensed in the United Kingdom at the moment. 

So, does this mean that you cannot use it? 

Don’t worry; it’s still a viable treatment option! Despite the fact that Dutasteride is not licensed for hair loss in the UK, this is not the same as the medication not being licensed for use. So, this means that Dutasteride can be prescribed as a hair loss medicine legally.

How does Dutasteride work?

Dutasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone, which is the male sex hormone, to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

DHT is typically formed in the hair follicles, adrenal glands, testes, and the prostate gland. It is a cause of the miniaturisation of the hair follicle that is linked to male hair loss, as well as being a cause of prostate enlargement.

In medical terms, Dutasteride is known as a dual 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. This basically means that it reduces the production of DHT. This is how it treats male pattern baldness and improves the symptoms that are associated with this. Hair loss will slow down, and the regrowth of hair will be encouraged, so it has a dual effect on treating hair loss.

In men who are genetically prone to male pattern baldness, both Finasteride and Dutasteride can prevent DHT from binding to hair follicles.

However, please note that Dutasteride is only suitable for men who are aged 18-years-old or above. Children or women should never take this medication. It should not be handled by females who are planning on becoming pregnant or are already pregnant, as it can result in genital defects in male foetuses.

Who cannot use Finasteride or Dutasteride?

You can’t use this: 

• If you were NOT born male, this treatment shouldn’t be used by females.
• If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the solution.
• If you are already taking Finasteride or Dutasteride for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
• If you are under 18 years of age.
• If you are susceptible to psoriasis or other scalp conditions.
• If your hair loss is not caused by male pattern baldness, such as hair loss due to a side effect of a medicine.

General Advice while on Finasteride or Dutasteride

• Women of childbearing potential should avoid handling crushed or broken tablets of finasteride.
  Finasteride is excreted in semen and use of a condom is recommended if the sexual partner is pregnant or likely to become pregnant.
• If you are having any tests for your prostate, please let your healthcare professional know you are taking Finasteride or Dutasteride.
• Medication can cause Breast abnormalities. Please stop medication and report to your doctor any changes in breast tissue such as lumps, pain, or nipple discharge.
• Please stop medication and report to your doctor any changes in your mood.

FAQ

Is there any evidence that long-term use of finasteride is dangerous or detrimental to a man’s health?

Finasteride was evaluated in 3,200 men and it was very well tolerated, including patients on therapy for up to two years. Long-term suppression of DHT does not appear to be harmful. This is based on extensive research, dating back to 1974, of men born with a deficiency of 5-alpha reductase

Is it recommended to use Dutasteride with other treatments for better results?

Dutasteride is a type of medication that can be used on its own, but it can also be used with other drugs. This is known as combination therapy, i.e. where you use more than one type of medication to treat a condition.

However, you do need to be mindful regarding the sort of treatments that you combine with Dutasteride. This is why GP advice and recommendations are critical.

It is believed to be safe to combine Dutasteride with certain topical medicines, such as Regaine. Minoxidil is the main ingredient in Regaine, which uses a different action mechanism compared with Dutasteride, which is why they can be used together.

Minoxidil will increase the flow of blood to your hair follicles. This works by helping more nutrients and oxygen to reach the area, increasing the chances of hair growth.

Because it works differently to Dutasteride, both can be combined in the hope of achieving more hair growth. If you decide to use Regaine, it is best for this treatment to be started within five years of your hair loss, which will increase the chances of it being successful.

We don’t recommend using Dutasteride with Finasteride, though, as they both work in the same way. Finasteride’s brand name is Propecia, so do keep this in mind if you are interested in combination treatment.

Does Dutasteride work for both women and men?

NO. It is imperative to stress that Dutasteride is only suitable for men. Adolescents, children, or women must not take it.

What is the best time of the day to take Dutasteride?

We advise that you take Dutasteride approximately half-an-hour after you have had a meal. It is important that Dutasteride is taken around the same time every day. So, if you take it 30 minutes after breakfast, make sure you continue to take it 30 minutes after breakfast all of the time.

The capsule should be swallowed whole. You should not open it, break it, chew it, or crack it. A leaking or broken Dutasteride capsule can result in irritation to your throat, mouth, or lips.

What happens if I miss a dose of Dutasteride?

If you miss a dose of Dutasteride or you do not take the medication to the schedule required, it may not work as effectively. In some cases, it can stop working altogether should you keep missing doses all of the time.

For Dutasteride to work effectively, a specific amount of it must be in your body all of the time. Therefore, it is imperative to stick to the dosage schedule that has been provided. If you find that you are struggling to take Dutasteride every day, why not set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself?

How long does it take for Dutasteride to work?

In most cases, patients need to take Dutasteride for approximately six months for them to notice a visible improvement in the thickness of their hair.

In most cases, Dutasteride causes levels of DHT to drop at a rather fast pace. However, the hair follicles can then require months to recover and then begin growing thicker hair again.

Because of this, it is imperative to make sure you take Dutasteride on a daily basis and continue the treatment for a minimum of six months before you assess the true impact that it is having.

Which is better: Dutasteride vs Finasteride?

There is no treatment that is better than another universally for hair loss, as everyone is different. This is why you always need a GP to assess your hair loss, medical history, and any other contributing factors and then determine the best solution for you.

Dutasteride is generally considered more effective overall because it inhibits types I, II, and III of the 5-alpha-reductase enzymes that convert testosterone into DHT. However, Finasteride will only block type II and type II.

As a consequence, Dutasteride can achieve a reduction of up to 98 per cent in terms of circulating DHT levels. On the flip side, Finasteride is able to achieve a reduction of up to 65 per cent in terms of circulating DHT levels.

Will Dutasteride reverse hair loss entirely?

It can differ from person-to-person, as everyone reacts differently to medication. It takes six months for you to start noticing the impact of Dutasteride. Moreover, it then usually takes around one year for you to experience the full effects of this medication in hair regrowth and preventing hair loss.

What are the alternatives to Dutasteride?

The most common alternative to Dutasteride is Finasteride. This works in a similar manner. However, Dutasteride is believed to be more effective, with numerous studies showing that this is the case.

What is the difference between Dutasteride and Finasteride?

Dutasteride and Finasteride work in a very similar manner. They are both oral treatments, which are to be taken once per day. They also work through the inhibition of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which converts testosterone into DHT.

What makes Dutasteride different from Finasteride, though, is that it also inhibits an additional 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which makes it a stronger treatment option in theory. However, it can mean that people experience greater side effects too.

One study from 2006 compared the effects of finasteride and dutasteride on 416 men between 21 to 45 years old who received either dutasteride, finasteride or a placebo treatment. It’s worth noting that although finasteride and dutasteride were both effective at treating hair loss and promoting hair growth, the researchers found that the men who took dutasteride had thicker hair — and a higher average hair count — after 24 weeks than the men who used finasteride. 

A review published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, which featured data from three studies comparing dutasteride and finasteride as treatments for male pattern baldness, came to a similar conclusion. The researchers concluded that although both medications are effective at treating hair loss in men, dutasteride “seems to provide a better efficacy compared with finasteride,” with a broadly similar rate of potential side effects.