Avodart (Dutasteride) 0.5 mg Capsules is available in the following strengths and quantities.
0.5mg | |
---|---|
30 capsules | £43.99 |
60 capsules | £63.99 |
90 capsules | £83.99 |
120 capsules | £103.99 |
180 capsules | £143.99 |
We do not recommend this product for first time hair loss patients - to begin with, please try a combination of Regaine and Finasteride 1mg tablets
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:
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:
Rare side effects include:
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.
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
The recommended dose of Avodart is one capsule (0.5 mg) taken orally once a day. The tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed or opened, as the contact with the capsule contents may result in irritation of the oropharyngeal mucosa. The capsules may be taken with or without food.
This medicine should only be taken by men and should not be taken or handled by women, children or adolescents. Avodart hair loss medication may be absorbed through the skin.
Women, children or adolescents who come into contact with leaking capsules of Avodart must immediately wash it off their skin with soap and water.
The active substance in Avodart is dutasteride. Each soft capsule contains 0.5 mg dutasteride.
The other ingredients are:
• inside the capsule: mono and diglycerides of caprylic/capric acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (E321).
• capsule shell: gelatin, glycerol, titanium dioxide (E171), iron oxide yellow (E172), triglycerides (medium chain), lecithin (may contain soya oil).
Avodart hair loss treatment should not be taken by those with severe liver disease. Those who take verapamil, diltiazem, nefazodone, alpha-blockers, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir or indinavir should make sure the doctor is aware. Avodart is a prescription-only product.
Avodart was originally developed for men with benign prostatic hyperplasis (BHP).
This medicine is for men only and must not be handled by women, children or adolescents. If your partner is or may be pregnant, you must wear a condom to avoid exposing her to semen which may harm a baby.
Tell your doctor if you’re taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines. These include any medicines you’ve bought without a prescription.
This medicine may contain soya oil.
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.