Finasteride (Propecia) vs Dutasteride (Avodart)
Posted 04-14-2008 at 01:47 AM by szo
This is like a boxing match. Men always want to bet on who’s the stronger and faster fighter. They always want to get results on the first round. It’s the same thing when they choose their medications. Well guys, see the statistics below and analyze the best drug that you would take.
Dutasteride and Finasteride both work in inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase (5AR), the enzyme that causes the conversion of testosterone to dihytestosterone (DHT). DHT is a powerful sex hormone that promotes body and facial hair growth, and affects the prostate and hairs of the head. It’s the culprit of it all! Increased level of DHT causes the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern baldness.
Studies shows that Dutasteride is more efficient in blocking both tpe-1 and type-2 isoenzymes of DHT compared to Finasteride, therefore serum DHT suppression is greater. Patients with BPH were treated with Dutasteride (0.5mg daily) has reduced serum DHT concentrations of 94% after a year and 93% after 2 years, while DHT concentration reduced by 70% only to patients treated with Finasteride (5mg daily) for up to 4 years.
Dutasteride gives faster response in decreased DHT levels. It can reduce DHT concentration by 85% after 1 week and by 90% after 2 weeks of treatment. After 4 months, Dutasteride (0.5mg) decreased DHT by 94.7% while Finasteride (5mg) decreased DHT levels by 70.8%. After the treatment and medications have been discontinued, DHT levels returned within 20% of baseline values within 4 weeks of those taking Finasteride and it took 16 weeks for those who took Dutasteride. This means, Dutasteride has a very long half-life, the time it takes half of the drug to be cleared by your blood stream, compared to Finasteride.
Effects of both medicines on Testosterone level is increased by 10-20% from the baseline value but remained within the normal limits.
Reduced Intraprostatic DHT, in the prostate gland, with Dutasteride is 97.1% on patient given 10mg daily for the first 7 days followed by 5mg daily. Finasteride reduced Intraprostatic DHL levels by 80% in patient taking 1mg and 90% taking 5mg given daily for 6-8 weeks.
From almost all the test results, obviously Dutasteride came out stronger and faster than Finasteride in reducing DHT levels, but it does not mean it will give a better result. Side effects are reported more with Dutasteride. Dutasteride has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss yet, it has only been approved for BPH treatment. Some who are taking Finasteride shifts to Dutasteride after knowing the statistics comparison, but always take precautions in shifting medications. Dutasteride has longer half-life. It takes 5 weeks before half of the medication is cleared, while it only takes 6 to 15 hours for Finasteride only. This means, the effects, good or bad, stays in your system longer.
To quote one patient who shifted from Finasteride to Dutasteride, he said, “Since the time I stopped Propecia, hair shedding started about close to a month after switching. In a matter of 5 months, my hair loss progressed dramatically and I have now a very noticeable receded hairline. I should have stayed with propecia, although it didn’t regrow a lot of hair I have expected, but it did regrow decent amount and most importantly, maintained what I had. Looking back, I could only blame myself for all reports that supported Dutasteride were either small scale, or short-term. I have since switched back to propecia a week ago after seeking a 2nd medical opinion.”
There were a lot of reports about shedding after taking these DHT inhibitors, but don’t panic or stop taking the medication. Stopping the medication will just worsen it. Shedding is the synchronization of the hair cycle. This means, the growing phase of the hair comes stronger. The miniature hair sheds and it’s being replaced by a new and thicker hair. The shedding will slow down and eventually stops.
There is no any magic drug to cure hair loss. DHT inhibitors cannot reverse hair loss but they can modify and delay it. Whether you choose Avodart or Propecia, you still need to take them long term as stopping them will let you lose all the hair that you’ve grown. Growing hair back is a gradual and progressive process; just the same way you lost them. It’s not only the result of each drug we take that we need to see. We also need to know how safe they are. Again, choose wisely. After all, it’s the hair that counts!
Dutasteride and Finasteride both work in inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase (5AR), the enzyme that causes the conversion of testosterone to dihytestosterone (DHT). DHT is a powerful sex hormone that promotes body and facial hair growth, and affects the prostate and hairs of the head. It’s the culprit of it all! Increased level of DHT causes the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and male pattern baldness.
Studies shows that Dutasteride is more efficient in blocking both tpe-1 and type-2 isoenzymes of DHT compared to Finasteride, therefore serum DHT suppression is greater. Patients with BPH were treated with Dutasteride (0.5mg daily) has reduced serum DHT concentrations of 94% after a year and 93% after 2 years, while DHT concentration reduced by 70% only to patients treated with Finasteride (5mg daily) for up to 4 years.
Dutasteride gives faster response in decreased DHT levels. It can reduce DHT concentration by 85% after 1 week and by 90% after 2 weeks of treatment. After 4 months, Dutasteride (0.5mg) decreased DHT by 94.7% while Finasteride (5mg) decreased DHT levels by 70.8%. After the treatment and medications have been discontinued, DHT levels returned within 20% of baseline values within 4 weeks of those taking Finasteride and it took 16 weeks for those who took Dutasteride. This means, Dutasteride has a very long half-life, the time it takes half of the drug to be cleared by your blood stream, compared to Finasteride.
Effects of both medicines on Testosterone level is increased by 10-20% from the baseline value but remained within the normal limits.
Reduced Intraprostatic DHT, in the prostate gland, with Dutasteride is 97.1% on patient given 10mg daily for the first 7 days followed by 5mg daily. Finasteride reduced Intraprostatic DHL levels by 80% in patient taking 1mg and 90% taking 5mg given daily for 6-8 weeks.
From almost all the test results, obviously Dutasteride came out stronger and faster than Finasteride in reducing DHT levels, but it does not mean it will give a better result. Side effects are reported more with Dutasteride. Dutasteride has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss yet, it has only been approved for BPH treatment. Some who are taking Finasteride shifts to Dutasteride after knowing the statistics comparison, but always take precautions in shifting medications. Dutasteride has longer half-life. It takes 5 weeks before half of the medication is cleared, while it only takes 6 to 15 hours for Finasteride only. This means, the effects, good or bad, stays in your system longer.
To quote one patient who shifted from Finasteride to Dutasteride, he said, “Since the time I stopped Propecia, hair shedding started about close to a month after switching. In a matter of 5 months, my hair loss progressed dramatically and I have now a very noticeable receded hairline. I should have stayed with propecia, although it didn’t regrow a lot of hair I have expected, but it did regrow decent amount and most importantly, maintained what I had. Looking back, I could only blame myself for all reports that supported Dutasteride were either small scale, or short-term. I have since switched back to propecia a week ago after seeking a 2nd medical opinion.”
There were a lot of reports about shedding after taking these DHT inhibitors, but don’t panic or stop taking the medication. Stopping the medication will just worsen it. Shedding is the synchronization of the hair cycle. This means, the growing phase of the hair comes stronger. The miniature hair sheds and it’s being replaced by a new and thicker hair. The shedding will slow down and eventually stops.
There is no any magic drug to cure hair loss. DHT inhibitors cannot reverse hair loss but they can modify and delay it. Whether you choose Avodart or Propecia, you still need to take them long term as stopping them will let you lose all the hair that you’ve grown. Growing hair back is a gradual and progressive process; just the same way you lost them. It’s not only the result of each drug we take that we need to see. We also need to know how safe they are. Again, choose wisely. After all, it’s the hair that counts!
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