How To Use Dutasteride For Hair Loss & Does It Aid Regrowth?

What Is Dutasteride?

Dutasteride is a common medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (2). It helps prevent the enlargement of the prostate gland. Dutasteride is also used for treating hair loss. It works by preventing the conversion of testosterone to DHT (or dihydrotestosterone). It is not available over the counter and can be obtained only with a doctor’s prescription. You get it in the form of a liquid-filled capsule.

Though dutasteride may help prevent hair loss, it has some risks. We have listed them in the next section. Most of these risks are based on anecdotal evidence.

Risks Associated With Dutasteride

• Allergies: Dutasteride may cause allergies in some individuals. Practice caution if you have a history of allergies. Discuss with your doctor.
• Pediatric: Dutasteride is not meant for children. It has not been tested on this age group for efficacy.
• Elderly: There is not enough evidence to suggest that dutasteride could be safe for the elderly. Consult a doctor.
• Pregnant Or Breastfeeding: Evidence suggesting the safety of dutasteride in pregnant or breastfeeding women is lacking. Stay safe and avoid use.
• Drug Reactions: Dutasteride may interact with certain drugs. Discuss your existing medications with your doctor. They may reduce or change the dose accordingly. Certain medications Dutasteride may interfere with include Cimetidine, Ciprofloxacin, Diltiazem, Ketoconazole, Ritonavir, and Verapamil (2).
• Other Interactions: Dutasteride may also interfere with certain meals or types of food. Using it with alcohol or tobacco may cause adverse effects. Consult your doctor for more information.
• Specific Medical Problems: Those with ailments like liver disease must be wary while using dutasteride. More research is warranted in this regard. Talk to your doctor before taking the medication.

Some individuals also claim to have experienced breathing difficulty, chest discomfort, dilated neck veins, weight gain, excessive fatigue, difficulty in swallowing, flaking or blistering of the skin, itchiness, and rapid heartbeat. Rarely, dutasteride is also believed to cause sexual dysfunction.

How Should You Use Dutasteride?

Dutasteride should be used as directed by a healthcare professional. You should follow the frequency, dosage, and duration as directed.

• You may take it with or without food.
• You must swallow the capsule and not crush or chew it.
• Check the patient information leaflet before taking the medication. Read all the instructions and get all your doubts clarified by your doctor.

A YouTuber shares his experience with combining dutasteride and finasteride for hair loss treatment. He also addresses the prevalence of side-effect stories on the internet, cautioning viewers to consider the overall low percentage of reported cases. He also mentions, “Taking the test ride seems like a nice step to maintaining and continuing to regrow my lost hair (i).”

In the next section, we will find out how dutasteride helps with hair regrowth.

How Does Dutasteride Help Regrow Hair?

Each hair strand goes through four stages of the growth cycle, namely anagen (or growth phase), catagen (or regression phase), telogen (or the resting phase), and exogen (or the shedding phase).

Androgenetic alopecia or AGA occurs during the anagen phase. The anagen phase becomes shorter, leading to hair follicle miniaturization. AGA is caused due to the conversion of testosterone to DHT, a process triggered by the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. Dutasteride inhibits this enzyme and may help prevent hair loss (3). In a study, varied hair regrowth was observed in patients treated with dutasteride. However, dutasteride does not offer a guarantee for hair regrowth. Its results vary between individuals (4).

One of the most recommended hair loss treatments is using minoxidil. But how does it vary from dutasteride? Scroll down to find out.

Dutasteride Vs. Minoxidil: Are They The Same?

Both dutasteride and minoxidil are not FDA-approved for hair loss in their oral form (5). However, minoxidil is approved as a topical 5% foam and 5 or 2% solution, but dutasteride is not. It is only approved in some countries like South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan for hair loss management.

Additionally, they both treat hair loss in different ways. Research shows that minoxidil acts as a vasodilator to widen the blood vessels to increase blood flow to the hair follicles and lead to hair regrowth. It may also influence how long hair stays in the growing and resting phase (6). Dutasteride works by inhibiting the action of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone to DHT, a hormone that can contribute to hair loss (6).

Did You Know?

Dutasteride is often prescribed in combination with oral or topical minoxidil in hair loss treatments.

Dutasteride is often compared with finasteride, which is another medication popular for treating hair loss. But which of the two is more effective?

Finasteride Vs. Dutasteride For Hair Loss

In a study, both finasteride and dutasteride were used on patients with androgenetic alopecia (5). It was found that 30% to 50% of patients with androgenetic alopecia did not show any significant improvement with finasteride. However, 78% of the patients showed improvement with dutasteride, while the remaining showed no significant change. The improved lot also observed an increase in their hair thickness and density by 10% (8).

The study concludes by stating that dutasteride can be used as an alternative treatment for patients who have not responded to treatment with finasteride.

In yet another study, dutasteride was more effective than finasteride for controlling hair loss (1). However, both showed similar rates of adverse reactions in sexual dysfunction.

How Long Does Dutasteride Take To Work For Hair Loss?

Dutasteride may take three months to six months or even longer to show results. This duration depends on the severity of hair loss and the patient’s pre-existing health condition. Keep your healthcare professional updated about how you are feeling during treatment.

Quick Tip

It is recommended to take a 0.5 mg Dutasteride capsule daily for 3-6 months to prevent hair loss and see hair regrowth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will dutasteride make you sleepy?

Yes, dutasteride may cause some people to become drowsy and sleepy.

Is there a substitute for dutasteride?

Yes. Finasteride can be used as a substitute for dutasteride.

(i) I took Dutasteride and Finasteride for Hair Loss | Here’s What Happened!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3XIXSC9LoQ

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Dr. Somodyuti ChandraMBBS, MD DVL & DNB

 

Dr. Somodyuti is a board-certified dermatologist with 9 years of experience, who specializes in skin, hair, and nail problems, laser surgery, and esthetic procedures. After completing her MBBS and MD DVL and DNB, she went on to do DNB Dermatology from the National Board (New Delhi) and MRCP - SCE Dermatology, from the Royal College of Physicians, UK. She has...more

Annie JangamBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Annie Jangam is a researcher-turned-content writer with 11 years of experience. She enjoys dissecting complex clinical studies and shuffling through the scientific jargon to make science interesting and easy to understand. Her scientific aptitude and love for writing paved the way to pursue a career in writing research-backed articles on skin care and hair care. Her expertise stems from her...more

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy. She has taken it upon herself to show...more

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends. Her passion for and understanding of all things related...more