Dutasteride vs Finasteride (Avodart vs Propecia)

I currently have used propecia for 8 years and have seen no hair loss since that point of initiation and some regrowth. I am very interested in dutasteride since it’s efficacy seems greater than finasteride. Though it isn’t currently FDA approved for male pattern baldness, do you think it safe for this use? And at what dose? Going through many blogs and websites, it seems the use of this drug for baldness is common.

Thanks

You are correct to state that the FDA has not approved Avodart (Dutasteride) for hair use. The half life of this medication is measured in weeks, not hours like Propecia, so the question is “what is the effective dose to prescribe?”. Intellectually, you can justify monthly doses, but there are no studies on safety or effectiveness which is the hallmark of the FDA. Side effects are reported more with Avodart than Propecia but then again the dose will dictate the frequency of the side effects. There is a gamble going outside the FDA approved drug route. The benefits of a theoretically more effective drug must be balanced against the safety and proven effectiveness issues.

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Greg - August 17th, 2005 at 12:57 pm

THE FDA HAS FOUND AVODART TO BE SAFE (FOR BHP) THE SIDE EFFECTS WERE VERY SIMLIAR IF NOT A TAD LESS THEN PROSCAR 5M.G WHICH ALSO WAS CLEARED BY THE FDA MANY YEARS AGO. I THINK AVODART SHOULD BE INDICATED AS A OFF LABEL PRESCIPTION IN SOME INSTANCES. 1) NON-REPONDERS TO PROPECIA 2) WHENB THE LOSS OF EFFICAY OF PROPECIA BECOMES BOTHERSOME TO A INDIVDUAL. ONE OTHER INTERESTING POINT IS THAT THE AGE GROUP THE FDA STUDY PROPCIA ON 18-42/ WAS A QUITE YOUNGER THEN WHAT PROSCAR/AVODART (50 + MEDIAN AGE 66 APROX) SO THE CHANCES OF SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS WILL INHERENTLY BE LARGER IN THIS AGE DEMOGRAPHIC AS OPPOSED TO PROPECIA..MEANING THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE PROBABLY EVEN CLOSER THEN ONE THINKS/ PROPECIA VERSUS AVODART. THE ONE DRAW BACK WITH AVODART IS THAT THERE IS KNOW “HUMAN MODEL” WITH TYPE 1 SUPPRESSION SO THERE IS A QUESTION ON “LONG TERM” SAFETY AS WITH MANY DRUGS. AS LONG AS YOU DONT HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS WITH AVODART/ THE LONG HALF LIFE CAN ONLY BE BENEFICIAL WITH ANDROGENTIC ALOPCIA AND THE PHASE 2 STUDYS SHOW THIS, PEOPLE HELD ONTO THE HAIR THEY GAINED(EVEN GREW MORE) 12 WEEKS “AFTER” THE THE MEICATION WAS DIS-CONTIUNED( 0.5 MG/ 2.5 MG ONLY) PROSCAR USERS SO A SHARP DECLINE IN THIS TIME FRAME. I HOPE THESE FACTS ARE HELPFUL IN SOME WAY. GREG

Mark - May 19th, 2006 at 8:46 pm

Pleae keep in mind that you made a very large mistake concerning the half life of AVODART and PROPECIA.
QUOTING:
You are correct to state that the FDA has not approved Avodart (Dutasteride) for hair use. The half life of this medication is measured in months, not hours like Propecia.

OFFICIAL DATA REALESED ON DUTASTERIDE.COM
Half-Life AVODART / DUTASTERIDE/ 6hrs - 15hrs
PROPECIA / FINASTERIDE/ 5 weeks

Mark.

William Rassman, MD - May 22nd, 2006 at 3:28 pm

Sorry Mark, that site is wrong. No mistake on my part.

See my full response, here - http://www.baldingblog.com/2006/05/22/dutasteride-vs-finasteride-half-life/

Sandeep - June 13th, 2006 at 7:13 pm

How to reduce the sebum secrection by the glands in the scalp? Is the increased sebum production directly propotional to DHT?

Ben - May 26th, 2008 at 1:43 pm

Mark is still correct, regardless of the source. You yourself state in your “full response” that the half-life is 3-5 weeks, not months!

Josh - September 21st, 2008 at 1:41 am

I think what Sandeep is asking is if dutasteride suppresses the sebhorreic dermatitis effects of sebum on the scalp