Any Dermatologist Will Prescribe Avodart!

Well I am 23 years old and last October I went on Propecia 1MG per day.

This past February I had a hair transplant and now six months later, I just got a prescription for Avodart.

I don’t know what all the hoopla was about getting a prescription for avodart. Any dermatologist who gives Propecia will give Avodart. She said “As long as you know it is offbrand and FDA has not approved it for hair loss, then I will prescribe it.” She also said how most acne medications are offbrand, such as Tetracycline and Minocycline. They are antibiotics meant for bacteria, not acne, but dermatologists prescribe it, just like they prescribe avodart for HAIR LOSS. You dont need to go lie to a doct to get Avodart, just tell them for hair loss and they will warn you but still give you the prescription.

You can also get anabolic steroids and marijuana from any doctor. Maybe even cocaine at your local street corner… if you look/try hard enough, you can find anything.

Using Avodart (dutasteride) for hair loss is off-label, which means it is not approved for the treatment for hair loss, but it should not be frivolously compared to using Tetracycline off-label for acne. Avodart is a medication for prostate disease and it lasts many weeks to months in your body long after you stop taking it. For young men to take such medication, there is no data establishing its safety and I have had reports from patients who are taking this medication that sexual side effects (decreased libido and erectile dysfunction) does occur. In patients who took Propecia (finasteride) and then switched to dutasteride, there are reports of more negative sexual side effects. Also keep in mind that using Avodart does not necessarily mean it will work better than Propecia since it works in similar ways of blocking DHT. In other words, blocking DHT is not the end all cure all for hair loss. You need to be well informed about your choices and implications of medication use.

In the end, I have no problem prescribing Avodart as long as my patients are well informed, but I tend to generally dissuade patients from using Avodart because I have not seen a dramatic difference between its uses compared to finasteride 1mg (Propecia) in most cases. There are some cases where the use may be better, but it is a gamble for both doctor and patient.