Avodart (Dutasteride) Questions

I have questions regarding Avodart. It is approved by FDA for benign prostatic hypertrophy, so if it is ok with FDA for this, why does it matter if it is not approved for hair loss? It shouldn’t matter what reason you take the medication. Once you take it, it goes in you. So if FDA gave the OK for one thing wouldnt this make the drug safe? It is my understanding that everybody is wondering about FDA approval for the drug but GlaxoSmithKline doesnt seem to care about marketing it for hair loss. So how can FDA approve it if the company doesnt want to target the market?

And i know you cant have all the answers but whats your personal feeling about new drugs that might have very strong result for preventing hair loss from frontal line to back? Something that might stop hair loss 99% if it is taken early enough. How long will take to see something like this? Just your opinion. Thanks.

Avodart is in use on older men with prostate problems. If it is used for younger men, then things change:

• If there is a negative sexual side effect, it may last months rather than days like Propecia.
• Effect on pregnancy is not known. Does it pass in the sperm, and if so, will it be in the woman or fetus for months?

These potential negatives are offset by the probability that Avodart is more effective than Propecia. My feelings on this subject are mixed. First, if Propecia works, why push the Avodart solution with the unknowns defined above? Second, what does the drug company know that I do not know? I can postulate that their reason for not pushing Avodart for hair loss reflects an uncertain profit bottom line, but I really do not know. From what I hear in the physician pipeline (unofficial), Avodart is probably more effective than Propecia and may play a role in those patients who do not get a good response from Propecia, or where Propecia just plain stops working over time.