Avodart (Dutasteride) 0.5 mg Capsules

Avodart

For many men, thinning hair is a natural part of the ageing process. Normally, male pattern hair loss starts when a man reaches his thirties or forties, but it can happen as early as late teens or early twenties.

Like many signs of ageing, it is not possible to stop or completely reverse male pattern baldness and many men are happy to embrace the process, or at least tolerate it. However, for some men baldness can affect confidence and mental health, particularly if it happens prematurely. In these cases, hair loss treatment can be effective. Medication can’t cure baldness, but some drugs can help to reverse male pattern hair loss.

Avodart is not licensed for use as hair loss treatment in the UK, however, it is licensed for the treatment of other hormone-related conditions and is therefore known to be safe. Avodart and other products containing generic Dutasteride are known to be effective in combating balding; provided you know it is used as an “off-label” for this specific condition, it can still be prescribed to you for the treatment of hair loss.

Many men are reluctant to see the doctor about balding: they may be embarrassed, unwilling to admit the psychological impact of the condition, or they might not go because they know that hair loss medication is not available on the prescription within the NHS. Oxford Online Pharmacy makes it easy to get hair loss medication online: simply fill in the medical consultation form after you check out and one of our doctors will assess your needs. If appropriate, you will be issued a private prescription, the cost of which is included in the medication price.

 We do our best to make the process of getting the right medication as clear as possible. Below, we answer some of your most common questions regarding Avodart:

• What is it?
• What does it do?
• How does it affect hair loss?  
• What are the differences between Avodart and Dutasteride?
• How long does it take to work?
• What are the side effects of it?
• Does Avodart have withdrawal symptoms?

What is Avodart?

Avodart is a well-known brand name for a drug that contains the active ingredient, Dutasteride, one of two types of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.

What does Avodart do?

The enzyme 5-alpha reductase is an enzyme that turns the male hormone, testosterone, into dihydrotestosterone. Hair follicles are sensitive to dihydrotestosterone, which causes follicles to narrow progressively over time.

Normally, a person loses an average of 100 hairs a day. If someone suffers from male pattern baldness, every time a hair falls out, the follicle gets narrower and the hair that it produces is weaker and finer. Eventually, the follicle will become so narrow and the hair so weak that it is unable to penetrate the surface of the skin. Avodart can halt the process of narrowing follicles and, in some cases, reverse it.

How does Avodart affect hair loss?

Avodart affects hair loss by inhibiting the process by which testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone. This means that the follicles don’t narrow, and, over time, it can cause the man’s hair to become thick and healthy again.

What is the difference between Avodart and Dutasteride?

Avodart contains the active ingredient, Dutasteride. Both medications work in the same way, but Avodart is a branded drug, while Dutasteride is a generic one. Many people trust branded medication over generic but, while both are equally effective, branded drugs tend to be slightly more expensive than their generic counterparts.

How long does Avodart take to work?

Hair growth rates vary for everyone. Usually, it is recommended that you take Avodart for a minimum of six months before you are likely to see a significant improvement in hair thickness and health.

What are the side effects of Avodart?

As with any medication, some people may be allergic to Avodart. If you know that you have an allergy to Dutasteride or any of the other ingredients listed within the information leaflet, do not take the medication. If you experience any sign of an allergic reaction, including hives, itching or swelling, stop taking the drug and contact your doctor.

There are some fairly common side effects of Avodart, which are experienced by as many as ten percent of men, which include:

• Impotence
• Reduced sex drive
• Difficulty ejaculating
• Breast augmentation, discomfort or pain.

Rare side effects include:

• Heart problems
• Shortness of breath
• Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts.

Finasteride (Propecia) and Avodart (dutasteride) cause the lowering of your natural testosterone levels (rarely) leading to side effects such as impotence and prostate problems. In addition, a very small number of patients have reported symptoms of depression and (rarely) suicidal thoughts.

A recent study has concluded:

The incidence of erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction and decreased libido resulting in discontinuation from therapy was significantly higher in the dutasteride (5.1%, 2.4%, 2.7%, respectively) compared with the finasteride (2.1%, 1.8%, 1.4%, respectively) group (p < 0.01) (reference Science Direct comparisons of finasteride and dutasteride)

A recent study has shown that patients taking dutasteride (or finasteride) have a lower overall risk of low-grade prostate cancer but a higher risk of more serious (high-grade) prostate cancer. If you have any symptoms such as blood in the urine or difficultly urinating (passing water) you should contact your doctor for advice.

Please speak to our pharmacist if you have any concerns about these issues.

Does Avodart have withdrawal symptoms?

Most people who take Avodart do not experience withdrawal symptoms. However, there is a unique set of circumstances that gives a person a greater chance of experiencing withdrawal when they cease taking any medication containing Dutasteride. In cases where a man is aged over sixty, has been taking Avodart or any other drug containing Dutasteride for more than ten years suffers from prostatic disorder and takes specific medications, such as Flomax, the likelihood of suffering withdrawal symptoms rises to fifty percent.

There are two types of 5-alpha reductase: types I and II. Finasteride, the UK’s licensed hair loss treatment, inhibits type II 5-alpha reductase. However, Avodart and other products containing Dutasteride inhibit both types of the enzyme, making it more effective for some men. In cases where Finasteride has been less effective than anticipated, Avodart is often recommended. It is unusual for a medical professional to prescribe Avodart or any other medication with the active ingredient Dutasteride unless any other hair loss medication has been used with limited or reducing success. During your consultation with one of Oxford Online Pharmacy’s doctors, the physician will asses the most appropriate medication for your circumstances.

If you have any questions about the different types of hair loss treatment available online from Oxford Online Pharmacy, please get in touch.

To read the patient information leaflet for this product click here https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.11614.latest.pdf