How Effective is Dutasteride for Hair Loss?
Medically reviewed by
Dr. IkejiLast reviewed: 07 Apr 2025
Dutasteride, available under the brand names Avodart and Avolve, is a medication used to treat an enlarged prostate gland in men, but it's also sometimes used off-label to treat male pattern baldness.
Dutasteride for hair loss works by blocking 5-alpha reductase (5-AR), an enzyme responsible for producing dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a key hair loss hormone.
Currently, dutasteride is not licensed as a hair loss treatment in the UK, but some healthcare providers may prescribe it off-label for this purpose.
In this guide, we’ll explore what dutasteride is, its effectiveness, and how it compares to the licensed hair loss treatment, finasteride.
What is Dutasteride?
Dutasteride belongs to a group of medications called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) inhibitors. It is prescribed to treat benign prostate enlargement in men, but is sometimes given off-label to treat hair loss in men.
Dutasteride is a prescription-only medication, so you will need a doctor’s approval to obtain it. It is also available under the brand names Avodart and Avolve
How does dutasteride work?
Dutasteride works by blocking the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT.
DHT is a hormone that influences the growth of the prostate gland and hair loss. In male pattern baldness, DHT can shrink hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. So, dutasteride reduces DHT levels, preventing hair follicle shrinkage and promoting hair regrowth.
What is topical dutasteride?
Topical dutasteride is a prescription-only formulation that is applied directly to the scalp to treat or prevent further hair loss.
Oral dutasteride, although effective, can cause severe sexual and neurological side effects. Therefore one of the major advantages of topical dutasteride is that it is applied directly to the affected area, reducing the risk of systemic side effects.
Why is dutasteride not available in the UK?
So far, not enough research has been conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of dutasteride for hair loss in the UK.
It is licensed to treat an enlarged prostate, and some healthcare providers may prescribe dutasteride off-label for hair loss. However, neither the NHS nor Superdrug Online Doctor will provide a dutasteride prescription for hair loss. Instead, we offer a range of other suitable treatments for hair loss in men and female pattern baldness.
How effective is dutasteride?
Clinical trials have demonstrated that dutasteride may be effective for managing male pattern hair loss.
Oral dutasteride
Dutasteride at a dose of 0.5mg per day can lower DHT levels by 92%.
One study comparing the effectiveness of dutasteride with finasteride for hair loss found that 81% of dutasteride patients and 47.8% of finasteride-treated individuals experienced improvements in basic and specific hair loss types.
Topical dutasteride effectiveness
When combined with minoxidil 5%, both 0.5mg oral or 0.02% topical dutasteride effectively treat androgenetic alopecia in both men and women. The study showed that compared to minoxidil alone, dutasteride, either orally or topically, was better at preserving hair density. It was also noted that topical dutasteride caused fewer side effects.
Side effects of dutasteride
The side effects of oral and topical dutasteride are shown in this table:
| Oral dutasteride | Topical dutasteride | |
| Common side effects | erectile dysfunction, low sex drive, ejaculation problems, breast enlargement or tenderness, dizziness (if taken with tamsulosin) | itching, scalp sensitivity, redness |
| Uncommon side effects | heart failure, hair loss or growth | - |
Long-term use of dutasteride can increase the risk of developing:
Some research shows that although dutasteride can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 22.8% over 4 years, it may increase the risk of high grade disease.
How to reduce the risk of side effects
Some of the things you can do to help reduce the risk of side effects when taking dutasteride include:
What to do if you get side effects
If you get any of the following serious side effects, stop taking dutasteride and get someone to take you to accident and emergency or call 999:
If you get any other side effects, contact your doctor for advice.
Who is dutasteride suitable for
Dutasteride isn’t suitable for everyone. It must only be taken by men who are over the age of 18 and who a doctor has prescribed it for.
Dutasteride must not be taken by women or children. It must not be handled by pregnant women because the active ingredient can be absorbed through the skin and cause birth defects.
If you are using dutasteride and your partner is pregnant, you must use a condom each time you have sex. If you are a man and you have severe liver disease, dutasteride is not recommended for you.
Dutasteride vs Finasteride
Although dutasteride isn’t licensed for hair loss in the UK, finasteride, an alternative hair loss treatment, is. Here’s how they compare:
| Dutasteride | Finasteride | |
| Active ingredient | dutasteride | finasteride |
| Branded version(s) | Avodart, Avolve | Propecia |
| Medication class | Both Type 1 and 2 5-alpha reductase inhibitor | Type 2 5-alpha reductase inhibitor | How it works | Blocks 5-alpha reductase activity, the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. DHT shrinks hair follicles resulting in hair loss. | Blocks 5-alpha reductase activity, the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. DHT shrinks hair follicles resulting in hair loss. | How often to take | 1 x 0.5mg dutasteride tablets per day | 1 x 1mg finasteride daily | Effectiveness | Lowers DHT by 92% and it is 81% effective for hair loss in men | Effective for up to 90% of men after 5 years | How long until you'll see results | 3 to 6 months for a noticeable improvement in hair shedding but 12 months or more for best results | 3 to 6 months for a noticeable improvement in hair shedding but 12 months or more for best results | Licensed in the UK? | No | Yes |
Summary
Dutasteride is a prescription-only medication used to treat an enlarged prostate in men, but may also have positive effects for managing hair loss in men.
Dutasteride and finasteride are both examples of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, but only finasteride or the branded version, Propecia, are licensed to treat hair loss in the UK. At Superdrug Online Doctor, we can prescribe both finasteride or Propecia as part of our hair loss treatment service.
Dutasteride FAQs
Is dutasteride linked to prostate cancer?
Yes, some studies suggest that dutasteride treatment may increase the risk of higher grade prostate cancer. However, dutasteride may be associated with a lower risk of being diagnosed with biopsy-detectable prostate cancer compared to placebo.
Can you regrow hair with dutasteride?
Yes, dutasteride is effective at promoting hair growth in men with male pattern baldness by reducing the amount of DHT circulating in the blood. Research shows that dutasteride improved hair loss in 80.8% of people compared to 47.8% treated with finasteride.
Will dutasteride thicken my hair?
Yes, some studies have found that dutasteride has a significant effect on hair thickness, increasing thickness between 10.3% and 18.9%. It does this by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, preventing hair follicles from shrinking.
Is dutasteride better than minoxidil?
In studies that have compared the effectiveness of dutasteride with minoxidil, dutasteride has been more effective than minoxidil, especially for promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss progression. Research shows that dutasteride reduces hair DHT levels by 92% while minoxidil reduces them by 64%.
Does dutasteride cause weight gain?
Although weight gain isn’t listed as a side effect of dutasteride, some people have reported weight gain as a possible side effect. You can help prevent weight gain by eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular exercise.
Does dutasteride affect sleep?
Dutasteride is not known to affect sleep directly, studies show it can improve cases of nocturia (peeing while asleep) or waking to urinate. However, there is no evidence that dutasteride has any effect on sleep quality.
Sources
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