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No. 056medication

Dutasteride

Dutasteride is a medication that is FDA-approved, prescription only.

Also known as Avodart, Jalyn

Dutasteride blocks both forms of the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, a broader effect than finasteride. It is approved in the US only for an enlarged prostate (BPH), but dermatologists sometimes prescribe it off-label for hair loss, and it is approved for male pattern hair loss in Japan and South Korea.

Extreme close-up texture of brown hair strands fanned across a bright white textile surface.
FDA-approved · Prescription

Is Dutasteride FDA-approved?

Approved by the FDA. A licensed clinician has to decide it is right for you and prescribe it. FDA-approved since 2001 for symptomatic BPH only (Avodart, and Jalyn with tamsulosin). Any use for hair loss in the US is off-label. Prescription only.

As of October 7, 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Dutasteride (Avodart) is FDA-approved only for an enlarged prostate (BPH). Using it for hair loss in the US is off-label.
  • It blocks both forms of 5-alpha-reductase, lowering DHT more broadly than finasteride.
  • Meta-analyses suggest it may regrow more hair than finasteride, with similar rates of sexual side effects.
  • It lowers PSA results by about half and stays in the body for weeks after stopping.

How does Dutasteride work?

DHT, a hormone made from testosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, gradually shrinks hair follicles in hereditary hair loss and drives prostate growth. Finasteride blocks one form of that enzyme. Dutasteride blocks both forms, so it lowers DHT further.

The Avodart label says its half-life at steady state is about five weeks, which is why it lingers long after the last capsule and why men are asked not to donate blood for six months after stopping.

A hand gathering long hair into a ponytail, shot from behind with cool blue lighting; face not visible.
A clear pill bottle with a blank white label and tan capsules stands against a bright sage-green background.
A patient's hands, seen only from behind, hold a tablet displaying an x-ray image in a bright waiting area.

Is dutasteride FDA-approved for hair loss?

No. The Avodart label lists only symptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate, and states it is not approved for preventing prostate cancer. Jalyn, which pairs dutasteride with tamsulosin, is also a BPH product. DailyMed: Avodart (dutasteride) prescribing information

Japan's regulator lists dutasteride (Zagallo) for male pattern hair loss in men only. PMDA (Japan): Zagallo (dutasteride) for male pattern hair loss, revision notice

South Korea approved dutasteride for androgenetic alopecia in 2009 and required post-marketing surveillance. Ann Dermatol (2016): Dutasteride for androgenetic alopecia, Korean post-marketing surveillance

What does the evidence say about Dutasteride?

Moderate human evidence

Strong trial evidence for BPH. For hair loss, meta-analyses suggest it may grow more hair than finasteride, but US hair-loss trials are few and it is not FDA-reviewed for that use.

What to expect

What trials and prescribing information measured over time. Everyone responds differently.

  1. About 24 weeks

    The 2022 network meta-analysis compared hair counts at 24 weeks, where dutasteride showed the largest increase among the treatments studied.

  2. After stopping

    With a half-life of about five weeks, the drug stays in the body for months; the label asks men not to donate blood for six months.

What do clinicians say about Dutasteride?

Dermatologists who use dutasteride for hair loss do so off-label, usually after finasteride, and with the same conversation about sexual side effects and PSA testing.

Summaries of published guidelines, drug labels, regulators and reviews, each attributed to its source. DiscoverMedica does not employ clinicians.

Is Dutasteride right for you, and who should avoid it?

Often considered for

  • Men with symptoms from an enlarged prostate (the FDA-approved use)
  • Men with male pattern hair loss who have not responded enough to finasteride, under a dermatologist's off-label prescription

Not a fit, or needs extra care

  • Women who are or may become pregnant: they should not handle the capsules because of risk to a male fetus
  • Children and women in general (it is not approved for them)
  • Men who plan to donate blood within six months
  • Men with liver disease, or with concerns about sexual side effects, should talk it through first

Only a licensed clinician who knows your history can decide whether it is right for you.

What are the risks and side effects of Dutasteride?

  • Sexual side effects on the label include impotence, lower libido, ejaculation problems and breast tenderness or enlargement.
  • It cuts PSA results by about half, so anyone having prostate screening must tell the clinician.
  • In the REDUCE trial high-grade prostate cancer was slightly more common with dutasteride than placebo.
  • It stays in the body for weeks: men should not donate blood for 6 months after stopping, and pregnant people should not handle the capsules.

What should you ask a clinician about Dutasteride?

  • Is off-label dutasteride a better fit for me than finasteride, and why?
  • How will it affect my PSA screening?
  • What should I watch for, and what happens if side effects appear?

These save with the compound when you add it to My Journal, so they’re on the printout for your visit.

How do people get Dutasteride through telehealth?

A close-up of a hand typing on a dark laptop keyboard on a white desk; no face, no screen visible, softly lit.

  1. For hair loss, a dermatologist or a telehealth hair service reviews your history and scalp, usually with photos.

  2. Because hair loss is an off-label use, expect a conversation about finasteride first and about side effects and PSA testing.

  3. If prescribed, generic dutasteride can be filled at a retail or mail-order pharmacy.

What programs often include

  • Clinician review and prescription
  • Follow-up on results and side effects

How some providers do it

  • KeepsSells a compounded chewable combining dutasteride and minoxidil after a provider consultation. Compounded products are not FDA-approved.
  • Amazon PharmacyFills generic dutasteride (generic Avodart) from your own prescriber.

From each provider’s own site, checked October 7, 2026. Programs change, so confirm the details before you sign up.

Where can I get Dutasteride?

5 providers list Dutasteride on DiscoverMedica, lowest listed price first.

MuselyThe Hair Pill (compounded minoxidil + dutasteride)
Compounded, not FDA-approvedLowest listed priceClinician consult required
$32/molisted price†
Start at Musely
KeepsChew+ 5-in-1: dutasteride and minoxidil (compounded)
Compounded, not FDA-approvedClinician consult required
$59.99/molisted price†
Start at Keeps
Strut HealthCompounded topical dutasteride hair gel (with minoxidil and tretinoin)
Compounded, not FDA-approvedClinician consult required
$69/molisted price†
Start at Strut Health
Amazon PharmacyDutasteride capsule (generic Avodart)
Clinician consult required
see site
Start at Amazon Pharmacy
Mark Cuban Cost Plus DrugsDutasteride capsule (generic Avodart)
Clinician consult required
see site
Start at Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs

† Prices as listed by the provider when we checked; they change.

How much does Dutasteride cost?

Listed prices run from $32 to $69 a month across 3 providers, as checked October 7, 2026.

Prices as listed by the provider when we checked; they change. Membership or consult fees may be separate; see each provider.

Dutasteride: questions, answered

What are the side effects of dutasteride?

In the Avodart label trials, impotence, lower libido, ejaculation problems and breast tenderness or enlargement were more common than with placebo, though each affected a small minority. It also lowers PSA by about half, and the REDUCE trial found slightly more high-grade prostate cancer. Report breast lumps or persistent sexual problems to your clinician.

Is dutasteride better than finasteride for hair loss?

Meta-analyses suggest it may be somewhat more effective. A 2022 JAMA Dermatology network analysis found the largest hair count gain at 24 weeks with dutasteride, and a 2019 review found no significant difference in sexual side effects. But finasteride is FDA-approved for hair loss and dutasteride is not, so most dermatologists start with finasteride.

Is dutasteride FDA-approved for hair loss?

No. In the US, Avodart and generic dutasteride are approved only for symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH). Prescribing it for hair loss is off-label, which is legal but means FDA has not reviewed that use. Japan and South Korea have approved dutasteride for male pattern hair loss.

Can women take dutasteride?

It is not approved for women, and the label says women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not even handle the capsules, because it can harm a male fetus. Any use in women is off-label and a specialist decision.

Does insurance cover dutasteride?

Generic dutasteride is widely available and is often covered when prescribed for BPH, its FDA-approved use. Coverage for hair loss is less likely, because it is an off-label cosmetic use, so many people pay cash. Ask your pharmacy for the generic cash price and check your plan before filling.

Important safety information

Key risks

  • Sexual side effects on the label include impotence, lower libido, ejaculation problems and breast tenderness or enlargement.
  • It cuts PSA results by about half, so anyone having prostate screening must tell the clinician.
  • In the REDUCE trial high-grade prostate cancer was slightly more common with dutasteride than placebo.
  • It stays in the body for weeks: men should not donate blood for 6 months after stopping, and pregnant people should not handle the capsules.

Talk to a clinician first, or avoid it, if

  • Women who are or may become pregnant: they should not handle the capsules because of risk to a male fetus
  • Children and women in general (it is not approved for them)
  • Men who plan to donate blood within six months
  • Men with liver disease, or with concerns about sexual side effects, should talk it through first

This is not a complete list of risks. Read the full prescribing information and any Medication Guide, and talk to a licensed clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. If you have a severe reaction, call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA through MedWatch at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sources

Also checked for this guide

Guide reviewed October 7, 2026.

Educational information only, not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with a licensed clinician.

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