Dutasteride vs Finasteride (Avodart vs Propecia)
I currently have used propecia for 8 years and have seen no hair loss since that point of initiation and some regrowth. I am very interested in dutasteride since it’s efficacy seems greater than finasteride. Though it isn’t currently FDA approved for male pattern baldness, do you think it safe for this use? And at what dose? Going through many blogs and websites, it seems the use of this drug for baldness is common.
Thanks
You are correct to state that the FDA has not approved Avodart (Dutasteride) for hair use. The half life of this medication is measured in weeks, not hours like Propecia, so the question is “what is the effective dose to prescribe?â€. Intellectually, you can justify monthly doses, but there are no studies on safety or effectiveness which is the hallmark of the FDA. Side effects are reported more with Avodart than Propecia but then again the dose will dictate the frequency of the side effects. There is a gamble going outside the FDA approved drug route. The benefits of a theoretically more effective drug must be balanced against the safety and proven effectiveness issues.
How to reduce the sebum secrection by the glands in the scalp? Is the increased sebum production directly propotional to DHT?
Mark is still correct, regardless of the source. You yourself state in your “full response” that the half-life is 3-5 weeks, not months!
I think what Sandeep is asking is if dutasteride suppresses the sebhorreic dermatitis effects of sebum on the scalp
I don’t want ANY medication that has a half life measured in weeks! I wonder what the long term liver effects are? For the few extra hairs it “may” grow, like Dr. Rassman stresses, what are the long term effects? It’s safety isn’t proven like Finasteride.