Dutasteride is the lowest cost prescription treatment for hair loss. Although it is not officially indicated to treat hair loss, it is often prescribed for its hair growth properties.
Dutasteride is the lowest cost prescription treatment for hair loss. Although it is not officially indicated to treat hair loss, it is often prescribed for its hair growth properties.
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Dutasteride, also known as Proscar®, is a prescription pill, similar in action to Finasteride that can be used for treating male pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia). . Although Dutasteride is not officially indicated to treat hair loss, it can be prescribed by a doctor for hair loss due to its effectiveness.
Dutasteride (generic Proscar®) comes in 0.5 mg capsules. Take one capsule daily for 3-6 months to see results of a fuller, thicker head of hair. Speak with one of our healthcare practitioners online today.
Both Dutasteride and Avodart® have the same active ingredient (Dutasteride). Since the active ingredient is the same, we recommend getting a consultation for hair loss with us to use generic dutasteride for a similar effect at a fraction of the brand name price.
Dutasteride has been shown to be at least as effective as finasteride in clinical trials.
One large clinical trial studying 917 men compared both treatments and found that dutasteride and finasteride were effective at treating hair loss and promoting hair growth. Both treatment groups generally tolerated the medications well.
One advantage of Dutasteride was the presence of more and thicker hair.
Source: Journal of American Academy of Dermatology
From $53.66 per month
Finasteride provides an effective treatment for male pattern hair loss.
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From $59.99 per month
Minoxidil 5% is a topical treatment that is Health Canada approved for hair regrowth.
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From $143.33 per month
Advanced medication delivery for customized treatment.
Learn More
From $53.66 per month
Finasteride provides an effective treatment for male pattern hair loss.
Learn More
From $59.99 per month
Minoxidil 5% is a topical treatment that is Health Canada approved for hair regrowth.
Learn More
From $143.33 per month
Advanced medication delivery for customized treatment.
Learn More
Common side effects may include sexual difficulties such as decreased sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, or ejaculation problems. Other side effects may include breast tenderness or enlargement, mild dizziness, or a runny or stuffy nose.
It’s important to inform your healthcare provider of all medical conditions and medications you are taking before starting Dutasteride. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid handling Dutasteride, especially if the capsules are crushed or broken, as the drug can be absorbed through the skin and may cause birth defects.
Combining Dutasteride with medications like alpha-blockers could have drug-drug interactions, and our healthcare practitioners may need to adjust your treatment plan accordingly. Make sure you inform your doctor beforehand about any medications you have been prescribed.
This FAQ provides general information. It’s important to consult with your healthcare provider for personalized health advice based on your specific medical conditions and medications. Gambit does not replace your existing general practitioner/ family doctor/ healthcare provider.
What the medication is used for:
DUTASTERIDE is used alone (monotherapy) in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with enlarged prostates.
DUTASTERIDE is also used in combination with the alpha blocker, tamsulosin, in the treatment of moderate to severe symptomatic BPH in men with enlarged prostates.
Combination therapy was also shown to be better than tamsulosin, but not DUTASTERIDE at reducing the risk of acute urinary retention (or where patient suddenly cannot urinate at all) and/or the need for BPH related surgery.
DUTASTERIDE is not approved for use in the prevention of prostate cancer.
What it does:
Prostate growth is caused by a hormone in the blood called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DUTASTERIDE belongs to a group of medicines called 5 alpha-reductase enzyme inhibitors.
DUTASTERIDE lowers DHT production in the body, leading to a shrinkage of the enlarged prostate in most men, which leads to improvements in BPH symptoms and improved urinary flow, reduced risk of acute urinary retention (or where patient suddenly cannot urinate at all), and reduced risk of the need for BPH related surgery.
DUTASTERIDE is also used with another medicine called tamsulosin, an alpha blocker, which acts by relaxing smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder neck at the site of obstruction, resulting in improvements in BPH symptoms and improved urinary flow.
Symptoms of BPH may be seen to improve after 3 months of treatment with DUTASTERIDE, however, it may take up to 6 months to know if treatment with DUTASTERIDE will be beneficial.
When it should not be used:
What the medicinal ingredient is:
Dutasteride
What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are:
Butylated hydroxytoluene, gelatin, glycerine, mono-and di-glycerides of caprilic/capric acids, purified water, titanium dioxide and yellow ferric oxide, and red printing ink containing iron red oxide as the colourant.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Soft gelatin capsules. Each capsule contains 0.5 mg of dutasteride.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:
Serious Warnings and Precautions
Heart failure (the heart does not pump blood as well as it should) was reported more often in patients taking dutasteride and an alpha-blocker, tamsulosin, in clinical studies than in patients taking dutasteride. It is not known if taking dutasteride and an alpha-blocker caused heart failure.
BEFORE you use DUTASTERIDE, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:
What are the special precautions about DUTASTERIDE?
You must see your doctor regularly. While taking DUTASTERIDE, you must have regular checkups, including digital rectal examination and PSA examination. Follow your doctor’s advice about when to have these checkups.
Checking for prostate cancer
A man can have BPH and prostate cancer at the same time. Prior to treatment with DUTASTERIDE, you should have a thorough urological evaluation to determine the severity of your condition, and to rule out the need for immediate surgery or the possibility of prostate cancer.
About Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
If a doctor asks you to have a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test which is used for screening prostate cancer, you should tell your doctor that you are taking DUTASTERIDE.
DUTASTERIDE can lower the PSA test result. A low PSA level may give you a false sense of security about your risk for prostate cancer. Your doctor is aware of this effect and can still use PSA to see if you might have prostate cancer.
Increases in your PSA levels while on treatment with DUTASTERIDE (even if the PSA levels are in the normal range) should be evaluated by your doctor.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION:
Interactions with other medicines
Some medicines can react with DUTASTERIDE and may make it more likely that you will have side effects. Some of these medicines may include:
Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking any of these, or other medicines. Your dose of DUTASTERIDE may need to be reduced. Remember to include all medicines, herbal remedies or dietary supplements, such as vitamins, iron or calcium, which you have bought yourself without a prescription.
Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking DUTASTERIDE. This drink is known to increase the blood levels of some drugs in the body.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION:
Always take DUTASTERIDE exactly as your doctor has told you.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Usual dose:
Monotherapy: One DUTASTERIDE 0.5 mg capsule once a day.
Combination therapy: One DUTASTERIDE 0.5 mg capsule once a day with one tamsulosin 0.4 mg once a day.
Do not share your medication with others.
Overdose
In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose, you can just take the next scheduled dose. Don’t take any extra capsules to make up for doses you forgot to take.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM:
The most common side effects of dutasteride capsules, taken alone or in combination with tamsulosin, are not being able to achieve or maintain an erection
If breasts swelling or tenderness becomes troublesome, or if you notice breast lumps or nipple discharge, you should talk to your doctor about these changes. Additionally, some people may experience dizziness when taking dutasteride capsules with tamsulosin.
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) of hair loss (usually from the body) or abnormal hair growth have been reported.
Very rare side effects (1 in 10,000 people) of allergic reactions depressed mood, and pain and swelling in the testicles have been reported.
Breast cancer has been reported in patients taking dutasteride capsules however, the relationship between long-term use of dutasteride capsules and breast cancer is not known.
