Avodart (Dutasteride) 0.5mg Capsules

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you experience any side effects at all, consult your doctor before continuing with the treatment.

You will need to be aware of the potential longer-term side-effects of taking finasteride (known as Post Finasteride Syndrome) - which may also apply to dutasteride - please see our Blog page on PFS for more information

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

This medication should not be used by women or children. It is not advisable for pregnant or potentially pregnant women to handle or contact the capsules. Dutasteride can enter the body through the skin and harm male babies during pregnancy. (1)
 

A medication called dutasteride, also known by the brand name Avodart, is used to treat male pattern baldness and hair loss. In order to promote healthy hair follicles and hair growth, dutasteride affects the formation of DHT.
 

Similar to finasteride, Avodart users should take the drug for at least a year before evaluating how well it works to stop hair loss and promote hair growth. It may take up to a year or longer for dutasteride to fully take action in terms of both reducing hair loss and promoting hair growth.

No interactions were found between Avodart and Viagra.(2)

Studies have shown Dutasteride to be more successful in treating male pattern baldness. This medication has the same number and kinds of side effects as finasteride and can be more successful at treating hair loss. Suggesting that you probably won't sacrifice effectiveness for extra side effects.(3)
 

Dutasteride is taken at a dosage of 0.5 mg, 1 capsule daily to prevent hair loss.

Avodart (dutasteride) can be taken at any time of day, however, it functions best when taken consistently at the same time each day.

Even if you do not notice any immediate benefits, it is crucial to keep taking avodart for the entire time that your doctor has prescribed it. Some men have an early improvement in their symptoms, but others might need to take avodart for three to six months to see if it works for them.(4)
 

The MHRA has approved dutasteride 0.5mg for the treatment of BPH but not for hair loss. An oral medicine called dutasteride prevents the testosterone from being converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone chiefly responsible for male pattern baldness and prostate enlargement.(5)

Dutasteride has a long half-life, therefore serum concentrations can be detected (more than 0.1 ng/mL) for up to 4 to 6 months after treatment ends.